Northwest Ordinances: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	Ordinances of 1784, 1785, and 1787
Date	1787 • April 23, 1784 • 1785
Location	United States
Context	American frontier • westward movement

Photos and Videos

Map illustrating the Northwest Territory as defined by the Northwest Ordinances of 1785 and 1787, covering present-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Insets show the Ohio Company's land purchases with numbered townships and sections, and a diagram explaining how land was divided into square-mile sections, with further subdivisions labeled by acreage. Section 16 in each township is marked as reserved for public schools. Current state boundaries and years of statehood are indica

Ohio Company of Associates: land purchase

Learn how the U.S. Congress passed the Northwest Ordinance to outline settlement of the Northwest Territory

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Topics

slavery government Civil rights Congress of the United States Northwest Territory

Key People

Digitally restored vector painting of President Thomas Jefferson, shown from the chest up wearing a dark coat and white cravat, with a neutral background.

Thomas Jefferson

president of United States