Final answer:
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory and set forth the process for these territories to become states.
Step-by-step explanation:
The topic at hand involves the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which is a significant historical legislative act that shaped the future of the United States. The most notable provision made by the Northwest Ordinance was the prohibition of slavery in the Northwest Territory. This area included lands that would later become the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The ordinance not only formed the basis for the expansion of the United States through the orderly admission of new states but also set a precedent for the establishment of a Bill of Rights for settlers, guaranteeing freedoms such as representative government and religious freedom. A significant aspect of the ordinance was the governance structure it provided, which included the appointment of a governor and judges by the Confederation Congress for territories with populations under 5,000 white adult males and a legislature elected by white males for those with populations between 5,000 and 60,000. When the population exceeded 60,000, the territory could draft a constitution, apply for statehood, and commit to forbidding slavery.