The Northwest Ordinance was a crucial piece of legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 1787. Here's what happened because of it:
1. Creation of New States: The Northwest Ordinance established a process for territories to become states. It set a guideline that once a territory reached a population of 60,000, it could apply for statehood.
2. Protection of Rights: The ordinance guaranteed certain rights to the inhabitants of the territory, such as freedom of religion, trial by jury, and public education. This laid the foundation for future states to have these rights as well.
3. Banning of Slavery: One significant outcome of the Northwest Ordinance was the prohibition of slavery in the Northwest Territory, which set a precedent for limiting the expansion of slavery into new territories.
4. Division of Land: The ordinance organized the Northwest Territory into smaller territories and eventually states, establishing a system of governance and land division that would influence future territorial expansion in the United States.
5. Impact on Indigenous Peoples: The ordinance also had consequences for Native American tribes living in the region, as it opened up their lands to American settlement, leading to conflicts and the eventual displacement of many indigenous peoples.
Overall, the Northwest Ordinance had far-reaching effects on the development of the United States, shaping the process of westward expansion, statehood, and the treatment of both settlers and Native Americans in the newly formed territories.
