The Ordinance of 1785

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“The Ordinance of 1785 called for three to five states, divided into townships six miles square, further divided into thirty-six sections of 640 acres, each section enough for four family farms” (The American Promise, 240). This allowed for land to be easily mapped by the government in control of territory. However, The Ordinance of 1787, also known as the Northwest Ordinance, “…set forth a three-stage process by which settled territories would advance to statehood” (The American Promise, 241). This was managed by congress that would appoint administrators for populated to territories to implement a code and oversee justice over the territory. The Ordinance of 1785 was a process of dividing up land and allowing spectators to buy it in order to gain a profit. “Land would be sold by public auction at a minimum price of one dollar an acre, with highly desirable land bid up for more” (The American Promise, 240). Therefore, individuals that are wealthier typically were able to purchase the more desirable land. However, Indian tribes were angered by the new settlement and territories, and warned settlers not to go on their side of the Ohio River. A meeting with the Indian tribes agreed that no territory could be settled on without the consent of all the tribes. “For two more decades, violent Indian wars in Ohio and Indiana would continue to impede white settlement” (The American Promise, 241). The Northwest Ordinance was a development of a legislature within the more populated territories. “When the free male population of voting age and landowning status (fifty acres) reached 5,000, the territory could elect its own legislature and send a nonvoting delegate to the congress” (The American Promise, 241). Divided the power within the states and territories helped prevent one group of people or the government from gaining too much power. This allowed for the United

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