Question

The Northwest Ordinance was an important law because it included several precedents, or "firsts." Identify four major provisions of this law.

Answer 1

The Northwest Ordinance included several major provisions. It established a process for new states to be admitted, banned slavery in the new territories, guaranteed basic freedoms through a Bill of Rights, and introduced a system of rectangular land division.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Northwest Ordinance was an important law passed by the Congress in 1787. It included several major provisions or 'firsts' that had significant impacts. Four major provisions of this law are:

1. System for the admission of new states: The Northwest Ordinance established a process for new territories to become states. It specified that once a territory's population exceeded 60,000, it could adopt a constitution, apply for statehood, and be granted statehood by Congress.
2. Banning slavery: The Northwest Ordinance prohibited slavery in the new territories. It allowed existing slaveholders in the region to keep their slaves, but no new slaves could be brought in.
3. Establishment of a Bill of Rights: The Northwest Ordinance guaranteed certain basic freedoms to settlers in the new lands, including representative government, religious freedom, and trial by jury.
4. Rectangular land division: The Ordinance of 1785, a precursor to the Northwest Ordinance, called for the division of the land into rectangular plots. This facilitated the government sale of land and the settlement of the territory.