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Line 1: − + + + + + + + + + + − The Northwest Ordinance was the first to protect territories against the taking of property by government without just compensation, which was later enacted as part of the [[Fifth Amendment]] but only much later extended to protect against takings by state legislatures. The Northwest Ordinance also established [[public school]]s for a religious purpose. − The following three principal provisions were ordained in the document: (1) a division of the Northwest Territory into "not less than three nor more than five States"; (2) a three-stage method for admitting a new state to the Union—with a congressionally appointed governor, secretary, and three judges to rule in the first phase; an elected assembly and one nonvoting delegate to Congress to be elected in the second phase, when the population of the territory reached "five thousand free male inhabitants of full age"; and a state constitution to be drafted and membership to the Union to be requested in the third phase when the population reached 60,000; and (3) a bill of rights protecting religious freedom, the right to a writ of habeas corpus, the benefit of trial by jury, and other individual rights. In addition the ordinance encouraged education and forbade slavery. Line 71:
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The '''Northwest Ordinance''', adopted July 13, 1787, by the Second Continental Congress, chartered a government for the Northwest Territory, provided a method for admitting new states to the Union from the territory, and listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory. Following the principles outlined by Thomas Jefferson in the Ordinance of 1784, the authors of the Northwest Ordinance (probably Nathan Dane and Rufus King) spelled out a plan that was subsequently used as the country expanded to the Pacific.
The '''Northwest Ordinance''', adopted July 13, 1787, by the Second Continental Congress, chartered a government for the [[Northwest Territory]], provided a method for admitting new states to the Union from the territory, and listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory. Starting in 1803 with [[Ohio]], fice states were formed including present-day [[Michigan]], [[Indiana]], [[Illinois]] and [[Wisconsin]].
Following the principles outlined by [[Thomas Jefferson]] in the Ordinance of 1784, the authors of the Northwest Ordinance (probably Nathan Dane and Rufus King) spelled out a plan that was subsequently used as the country expanded to the Pacific. The Ordinance prohibited slavery, and set up a system of geometrical land surveys based on townships. One section out of every 36 was reserved for support of schools.
[[Image:Nw-territory.jpg|thumb|290px]]
The Northwest Ordinance was the first to protect territories against the taking of property by government without just compensation, which was later enacted as part of the [[Fifth Amendment]] but only much later extended to protect against takings by state legislatures.
The following three principal provisions were ordained in the document: (1) a division of the Northwest Territory into "not less than three nor more than five States"; (2) a three-stage method for admitting a new state to the Union—with a congressionally appointed governor, secretary, and three judges to rule in the first phase; an elected assembly and one nonvoting delegate to Congress to be elected in the second phase, when the population of the territory reached "five thousand free male inhabitants of full age"; and a state constitution to be drafted and membership to the Union to be requested in the third phase when the population reached 60,000; and (3) a bill of rights protecting religious freedom, the right to a writ of habeas corpus, the benefit of trial by jury, and other individual rights. In addition the ordinance encouraged education and forbade slavery. Starting in 1803 with [[Ohio]], states were formed including present-day [[Michigan]], [[Indiana]], [[Illinois]] and [[Wisconsin]].
==Transcript of Northwest Ordinance (1787)==
==Transcript of Northwest Ordinance (1787)==
Done by the United States, in Congress assembled, the 13th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1787, and of their sovereignty and independence the twelfth.
Done by the United States, in Congress assembled, the 13th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1787, and of their sovereignty and independence the twelfth.
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[[category:American Revolution]]
[[category:Western United States]]
[[category:Early National U.S.]]
[[Category:American State Papers]]
[[Category:American State Papers]]