Changes

When a new territory in the "northwest" had less than 5000 adult free (non-slave) males, it was to be ruled by a governor, a secretary, and three judges appointed by Congress.  When the population exceeded 5000, then they could elect a legislature (assembly) that could send a nonvoting person to Congress.  A territory was required to have at least 60,000 free men living in it before it could apply for statehood.  A republican form of government was required in order for a territory to become a new state.  Slavery was prohibited north of the Ohio River (which means it was prohibited virtually everywhere in the Northwest Territory).   

When a new territory in the "northwest" had less than 5000 adult free (non-slave) males, it was to be ruled by a governor, a secretary, and three judges appointed by Congress.  When the population exceeded 5000, then they could elect a legislature (assembly) that could send a nonvoting person to Congress.  A territory was required to have at least 60,000 free men living in it before it could apply for statehood.  A republican form of government was required in order for a territory to become a new state.  Slavery was prohibited north of the Ohio River (which means it was prohibited virtually everywhere in the Northwest Territory).   

The Northwest Ordinance was the first to protect private property against the taking of property by government without just compensation, which was later enacted as part of the Fifth Amendment.  The Northwest Ordinance protected other individual rights that would later become part of the [[Bill of Rights]]:  religious freedom, a right to a writ of ''habeas corpus'' (which enables anyone imprisoned to demand a hearing to challenge his imprisonment) and trial by jury (keep in mind that the [[U.S. Constitution]] did not exist yet).  In addition, the ordinance encouraged public education, but public schools would not become widespread in their modern form until the 1900s.  

The Northwest Ordinance was the first to protect private property against the taking of property by government without just compensation, which later became part of the U.S. Constitution in the Fifth Amendment.  This protection of private property by the Northwest Ordinance was one of several individual rights that the Ordinance protected which subsequently become part of the [[Bill of Rights]], including religious freedom, a right to a writ of ''habeas corpus'' (which enables anyone imprisoned to demand a hearing to challenge his imprisonment) and trial by jury (keep in mind that the [[U.S. Constitution]] did not exist yet).  In addition, the ordinance encouraged public education, but public schools would not become widespread in their modern form until the 1900s.  

The Northwest Ordinance was a huge success, establishing how new states could be created in a peaceful and orderly manner.  It also put foreign countries, particularly England and France, on notice that the [[United States]] owned this territory and would be settling it.   

The Northwest Ordinance was a huge success, establishing how new states could be created in a peaceful and orderly manner.  It also put foreign countries, particularly England and France, on notice that the [[United States]] owned this territory and would be settling it.   

This Ordinance was passed in the summer of 1787, while the Constitutional Convention was meeting in Philadelphia.  When the Articles of Confederation were replaced by the Constitution, the Ordinance was passed again under the new Constitution.

The Northwest Ordinance was passed in the summer of 1787, while the Constitutional Convention was meeting in Philadelphia.  When the Articles of Confederation were replaced by the Constitution, the Ordinance was passed again under the new Constitution.

The following new territories became new states due to the success of the Northwest Ordinance (with their date of statehood in parentheses): Ohio (1803), Indiana (1816), Illinois (1818), Michigan (1837), Wisconsin (1848), and Minnesota (1858).

The following new territories became new states due to the success of the Northwest Ordinance (with their date of statehood in parentheses): Ohio (1803), Indiana (1816), Illinois (1818), Michigan (1837), Wisconsin (1848), and Minnesota (1858).

Economic concerns sparked the first serious call for a national convention to improve the Articles of Confederation.  In September 1786, nine (9) states accepted Virginia's call for a national convention on the issue of interstate commerce, which was trade between the states.  Under the Articles of Confederation, each state could impose taxes ("tariffs") on goods or merchandise shipped to it from another state, and these "tariff wars" disrupted the free market and impeded economic progress.  Only five (5) states attended this "Annapolis Convention," so it was a failure.  But it did something that proved to be historic:  it called for another constitutional convention to be held in Philadelphia.

Economic concerns sparked the first serious call for a national convention to improve the Articles of Confederation.  In September 1786, nine (9) states accepted Virginia's call for a national convention on the issue of interstate commerce, which was trade between the states.  Under the Articles of Confederation, each state could impose taxes ("tariffs") on goods or merchandise shipped to it from another state, and these "tariff wars" disrupted the free market and impeded economic progress.  Only five (5) states attended this "Annapolis Convention," so it was a failure.  But it did something that proved to be historic:  it called for another constitutional convention to be held in Philadelphia.

The next convention -- the famous "Constitutional Convention" -- convened in the summer of 1787 (May through September) in Philadelphia to strengthen the national government by modifying the Articles of Confederation.  Note that its original goal was to fix the Articles of Confederation, not to replace them, but once at the convention the [[Founding Fathers]] decided to replace the Articles altogether.  '''''This Convention became one of the most important events in the entire history of mankind.'''''

The next convention -- the famous "Constitutional Convention" -- convened in the summer of 1787 (May through September) in Philadelphia to strengthen the national government by modifying the Articles of Confederation.  Notice that its original goal was to fix the Articles of Confederation, not to replace them, but once at the convention the [[Founding Fathers]] decided to replace the Articles altogether.  '''''This Convention became one of the most important events in the entire history of mankind.'''''

Every state sent representatives except Rhode Island.  Some pretend that Rhode Island's "[[separation of church and state]]" laid the foundation of the Constitution, but Rhode Island didn't even show up at the Constitutional Convention!

Every state sent representatives except Rhode Island.  Some pretend that Rhode Island's "[[separation of church and state]]" laid the foundation of the Constitution, but Rhode Island didn't even show up at the Constitutional Convention!