Final answer:
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 led to the creation of the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, setting up a system for their transition to statehood and prohibiting slavery within their boundaries.
Step-by-step explanation:
States Formed from the Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was a significant legislation that established the framework for the settlement of the Northwest Territory. This territory eventually became the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The Ordinance provided a clear process for how these territories could transition into states and introduced a grid pattern for land division that has left a lasting impact on the American landscape. Furthermore, the law upheld important principles such as the prohibition of slavery in the new territories, the guarantee of religious freedom, and the support for public education through land grants for schools.
Under the Ordinance, the population milestones determined the governance structure and path to statehood, ensuring orderly growth and development of these new lands into states. This law was instrumental in guiding the expansion of the United States westward, setting a precedent for the creation of new states, and enforcing a ban on slavery in the Northwest Territory.