The Northwest Ordinance established a governance framework for the Northwest Territory, allowing territories to create representative assemblies and apply for statehood once population criteria were met.
By prohibiting slavery's expansion into the Northwest Territory, the Northwest Ordinance initiated the divide between free and slave states, influencing future national debates on slavery.
The Ordinance set clear guidelines for statehood, emphasizing the equal rights of newly admitted states with the original thirteen, important for national unity.
Ultimately, the Northwest Ordinance was a pivotal legislative act that not only organized western expansion but also framed the governance of future states.
Collection
[
|
...
]