Articles of Confederation II

New Land Policies

Objective: I will be able to discuss why the country needed a new process for new states to join the union, as more people moved west.

New Land Policies

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, only a few thousand settlers lived west of the Appalachian Mountains. By the 1790s, the number was approaching 120,000. These western settlers hoped lo organize their lands as states and join the Union. The Articles of Confederation, however, did not contain a provision for adding new states. Congress realized that it had to extend its national authority over the frontier.

New Land Policies

During the 1780s, all of the states except Georgia gave up their claims to lands west of the Appalachians. The central government took control of these lands. In 1784 Congress divided the western territory into self-governing districts. When the number of people in a district reached the population of the smallest existing state, that district could petition, or apply to, Congress for statehood.

Multiple Choice

By the 1790s almost 120,000 people were living west of these Mountains.

• Rocky Mountains

• Cascade Mountains

• San Juan Mountains

• Appalachian Mountains

Multiple Choice

In 1784 Congress divided the western territory into self-governing...

• Districts

• Areas

• Counties

Multiple Choice

When could a district apply to Congress for statehood?

• Whenever they wanted to

• When their population reached the size of the smallest state

• When their population reached 2,000.

Multiple Select

What does petition mean?

• apply

• sign

• build

• want

Ordinance of 1785

In 1785 the Confederation Congress passed an ordinance, or law, that established a procedure for surveying and selling the western lands north of the Ohio River. The new law divided this massive territory into townships 6 miles long and 6 miles wide. These townships were to be further divided into 36 sections of 640 acres each that would be sold at public auction for at least a dollar an acre. Land speculators viewed the law as an opportunity to accumulate large tracts of land cheaply. Concerned about lawless people moving into western lands, Richard Henry Lee, the president of the Congress, urged that "the rights of property be clearly defined" by the government. The Congress drafted another ordinance to protect the interests of hardworking settlers. 

Multiple Choice

What is an ordinance?

• a suggestion

• a sandwich

• a law

• a plant

Multiple Choice

What did the Ordinance of 1785 do?

• Divided land north of the Ohio River into townships

• Divided land west of the Mississippi River into townships

Northwest Territory

The Northwest Ordinance, passed in 1787, created a single Northwest Territory out of the lands north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. The lands were to be divided into three to five smaller territories. When the population of a territory reached 60,000, the people could petition for statehood. Each new state would have the same rights and privileges as the original 13 states.

The Northwest Territory

The Northwest Ordinance included a bill of rights for the settlers, guaranteeing freedom of religion and trial by jury. It also stated, "There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in said territory." This clause, or condition added to a document, marked the first attempt to stop the spread of slavery in the United States. The Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance opened the way for settlement of the Northwest Territory in a stable and orderly manner.

Multiple Choice

How many people did a Territory need to have befor they could apply for statehood?

• 45,000 people

• 50,000 people

• 60,000 people

• 75,000 people

Multiple Choice

The Northwest Ordinance banned slavery from the Northwest Territory

• False

• True

• It said nothing about slavery

Open Ended

Exit Ticket: What dis you learn about today?