Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 said that the land north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River would eventually become part of the United States. It encouraged people to move out of the east to the west. The Ordinance established policies for governing the territory and included laws eventually adopted in the Constitution. Included in the Ordinance were laws protecting freedom of religion (Article I), rights of the accused (Article II), public education and Indian land rights (Article III), admission of new states (Article V), and prohibition of slavery in the territory (Article VI). The territory included the future states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and part of Minnesota. This was a very important part in the American history.
Northwest Ordinance Media
Map of*territories of the United States as it was on August 7, 1789, when the Northwest Territory was organized
Plaque commemorating the passage of the Northwest Ordinance outside Federal Hall in Manhattan.*The same plaque is also placed in front of the administration building of Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio. Marietta was the first capital of the
US Postage Stamp: Ordinance of 1787, Issue of 1937, 3c