Question

Explain the importance of land ordinances of 1784 and 1785, as well as the northwest ordinance of 1787, both for the early republic and future generations?

Answer 1

The Land Ordinance of 1784 redistributed the new lands between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River into new territories. The original states had laid claim to the new lands but Jefferson created the land ordinance to ensure new states could be admitted.

The Land Ordinance of 1785 established a systematic way to divide the new western lands into 1 acre plots to create townships. Each township contained 36-1 acre square plots. With the 16th plot reserved for a school. The act set pricing for land that stayed in place until the 1860s. The reserved plot for schools demonstrated the government's desire to create public schools and to make education a priority.

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 created the process for lands to become a territory and then to become a state. The act stated slaves were not allowed in the Northwest Territory and all civil liberties were to be protected by the governments. This act demonstrated the progress the Founders were hoping to make and the eventual goals they had for the country in creating new lands.