13 jul 1787 año - Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Descripción:

A law passed by the Confederate Congress that created the Northwest Territory, a US-controlled region between the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, and the Ohio River. It made plans to split the territory into three to five states (once the area reached a population of 60,000) that would have powers and representation equal to those of the original 13, which was an unusual idea at the time. This idea would create a precedent for most territories acquired by the country to become states (with the exception of some island territories like Puerto Rico). The ordinance banned slavery in the territory, as well as forbidding slavery in any state that would be created in that territory. It also set up a public university to educate the residents of the territory. Finally, the residents of the territory were guaranteed certain legal rights, a prelude to the Bill of Rights. The territory was eventually broken up into the states of Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. It is often hailed as the Confederate government's biggest achievement.