Why did later generations consider the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 to be the singular achievement of the American confederation years?
a. It established public education as a primary concern of the federal government.
b. Its prohibition of slavery in the Northwest greatly impacted North-South relations and future debates about the authority of the federal government to restrict slavery.
c. It cemented Thomas Jefferson as a leader of national standing, laying the groundwork for his future presidency.
d. It invented the idea of a grid design for town and city planning.