Final answer:
The Land Ordinance of 1785 divided western lands into townships that were six miles squared, with each township containing thirty-six sections of about 640 acres each for sale and settlement.
Step-by-step explanation:
After Congress passed the Land Ordinance of 1785, western lands were divided into townships. These townships were designed to be six miles squared and were further divided into thirty-six sections. Each section was approximately 640 acres, with thirty-five of these sections intended for sale and one reserved for the establishment of schools. This ordinance facilitated the orderly sale of land, spurring settlement while also leading to conflicts with Native Americans who disputed the American claims to the territory.