Northwest Ordinance By Brendan

The Northwest Ordinance was a law created to create northwest territory northwest of the river Ohio. The bill was signed august 7, 1789. This land was developed into smaller territories. When a territory had 5,000 adult males it could have its own law making  body, when they get 60,000 people they could become a state with a goverment. Another good thing about the ordinance besides the new land were that slavery was prohibited there. Along with that, civil rights were established.Later over the years, more territories were established and grew all the way to the pacific coast. Indians were a problem because they were established on their land so the indians attcked the settlers untill a new army took them out and they could continue to settle.

This document was very important. What made it so important was that it was progress toward northwestern movement or advancement. Slavery-free states were created and new colonies, territories, and states were made. The Ohio river then served as a boundary between the free and slave states.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Ordinance