Changes

Two of Congress's attempts to make money by selling land west of the Appalachians were the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.  An "[[ordinance]]" is a new law, often one that concerns the regulation of land.  These two ordinances were the only major laws enacted under the [[Articles of Confederation]].

Two of Congress's attempts to make money by selling land west of the Appalachians were the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.  An "[[ordinance]]" is a new law, often one that concerns the regulation of land.  These two ordinances were the only major laws enacted under the [[Articles of Confederation]].

The [[Land Ordinance of 1785]] provided for surveying and dividing territories west of the colonies into towns 6 miles square, and sold 640 acre chunks at auctions for a minimum of $1 per acre.  Almost no one wanted to pay so much money in order to obtain much land, so these chunks were often bought and divided by investors, and then sold to farmers.

The [[Land Ordinance of 1785]] provided for surveying and dividing territories west of the colonies into towns 6 miles square, and selling 640 acre chunks at public auctions for a minimum of $1 per acre.  Almost no one wanted to pay so much money in order to obtain much land, so these chunks were often bought and divided by investors, and then sold to farmers.

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was the most important achievement of the Confederation period.  Keep in mind that the "northwest" in 1787 consisted of what is now Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, which were territories northwest of the 13 colonies.  This Ordinance established a way to create no less than three and no more than five new states.  It established a three-stage process based on population for new states to be created and join the Confederation of colonies.  It also specified what type of government the new territories and states must have, a requirement that would later become part of the [[U.S. Constitution]].

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, and slavery was prohibited north of the Ohio River.  A republican form of government was required in order for a territory to become a new state.

The [[Northwest Ordinance of 1787]] was the most important achievement of the Confederation period.  Keep in mind that the "northwest" in 1787 consisted of the territory north of the Ohio River, east of the Mississippi River, and south of the [[Great Lakes]].  It is the land that is now Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota (east of the Mississippi River), which was territory located northwest of the 13 colonies.  [[Image:Northwest Territory|right|imprecise map of Northwest Territory from the late 1700s]]

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.  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 argue to be freed) and trial by jury. In addition the ordinance encouraged education and forbade slavery.  

The Northwest Ordinance established a way to create no less than three and no more than five new states.  It established a three-stage process based on population for new states to be created and join the Confederation of colonies.  It also specified what type of government the new territories and states must have, a requirement that would later become part of the [[U.S. Constitution]].

The Northwest Ordinance was a huge success, establishing how new states could be created in a peaceful and orderly manner.  This Ordinance was passed as the Constitutional Convention was going on.  When the Articles of Confederation were replaced, the Ordinance was passed again under the new Constitution.

 

 

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 land and would be settling it.  This Ordinance was passed as the Constitutional Convention was going on and 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).

==Shays' Rebellion==

==Shays' Rebellion==