Question

Which statement accurately describes the relationship between the Northwest Ordinance and the Articles of Confederation?

A) The Northwest Ordinance was a law passed under the authority of the Articles of Confederation, establishing a process for admitting new states to the Union and prohibiting slavery in the Northwest Territory.

B) The Northwest Ordinance was a separate document that replaced the Articles of Confederation, outlining a new system of government for the Northwest Territory.

C) The Northwest Ordinance was a failed attempt to amend the Articles of Confederation, as it was not ratified by all thirteen states.

D) The Northwest Ordinance was a precursor to the Articles of Confederation, providing a framework for the establishment of a national government.

Answer 1

The Northwest Ordinance was a significant law passed under the Articles of Confederation that established a process for new states to join the Union and banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relationship between the Northwest Ordinance and the Articles of Confederation is accurately described in statement A: The Northwest Ordinance was a law passed under the authority of the Articles of Confederation, establishing a process for admitting new states to the Union and prohibiting slavery in the Northwest Territory.

This ordinance was one of the most significant achievements of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation. It laid down a structured process for the settlement and statehood of the territories that would later become Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Importantly, the Northwest Ordinance is noted for banning slavery within these territories and outlining a Bill of Rights guaranteeing basic freedoms, such as religious liberty and the right to trial by jury for the settlers.

The Ordinance also detailed the growth stages of governance a territory would undergo before becoming a state, starting from being governed by a governor and judges appointed by the Confederation Congress, to forming a local elected legislature, and ultimately to drafting a state constitution that would forbid slavery.