jul 13, 1787 - Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Description:

Laid the basis for the government of the Northwest Territory and also laid the basis for how it could form its own representative legislature. To do this the district had to be governed by a governor, secretary, and three judges chosen by Congress until it gained a population of 5000 free men.

Causes
Congress wanted to ensure that the new territories in the Northwest were settled in a peaceful way.

Impact
Helped prove that there were no imperialistic assumption behind expansion and that the government's land policies didn't be similar to European expansion policies.

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