Final answer:
The land ordinances of 1784 and 1785 structured the Northwest Territory into townships for settlement and sale, set the process for creating new states and provided land for schools, important steps in the United States' western expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Congress achieved significant milestones with the land ordinances of 1784 and 1785. The Land Ordinance of 1785 organized the Northwest Territory into a structured system of townships, six miles square, with each township divided into thirty-six sections. Each section measured 640 acres, priced at a minimum of $1.00 per acre. This legislation fostered settlement and aimed at raising revenue for the new nation. Additionally, one section in each township was reserved for the support of public schools. Meanwhile, the Ordinance of 1784 laid down the framework by which new states could be established from these territories, with equal status to the original states. Together, these ordinances streamlined the process of settling the frontier and laid the foundation for Western expansion, providing a blueprint for how the United States would grow.
The Confederation Congress's enactment of these ordinances showed their intent to manage the newly acquired western lands. The system for divvying up the territory into organized grids made it easier to sell the land to settlers and speculators. However, this approach led to conflicts with Native Americans who did not surrender their claim to these lands after the Treaty of Paris. The plans for the orderly expansion and creation of new states were ambitious and fundamental elements of early American governance, setting the stage for future growth.