Final answer:
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 prohibited slavery in the territories that would become states such as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. It was an essential step in the regulation of slavery in the new territories, setting a precedent for the restriction of the institution as the nation expanded westward.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stance on Slavery in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787, a landmark piece of legislation, dealt with the issue of slavery in newly created states. It specifically prohibited slavery in the territories that would become Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
This legislation not only banned slavery but also established a precedent for future territorial expansion of the United States, setting an orderly grid for geographical division that has lasting effects on the American landscape to this day.
The Northwest Ordinance included a provision for the return of runaway slaves to their owners, highlighting the complexities of the legal stance on slavery at the time.
It represented an attempt on the part of the Confederation Congress to control the spread of slavery into the new territories, despite the ongoing national conflicts regarding the institution. However, it was clear that the ordinance intended to limit and phase out slavery, at least in the Northwest Territory.
The stance on slavery in the states created under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was that it was prohibited, except as punishment for a crime. This significant regulation shaped the future admissions of states and outlined the conditions for statehood that included the ban on slavery.