Northwest Ordinance

Definition

The Northwest Ordinance was a law passed by the U.S. Congress in 1787 that established a process for admitting new states to the Union from the Northwest Territory. It also included provisions for the governance and organization of these territories.

Related terms

Northwest Territory: The vast area of land northwest of the Ohio River, which would eventually become several states including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Territorial Government: A form of government established in an area that has not yet become a state; it is usually governed by officials appointed by the federal government.

Statehood: The status of being an independent political entity or state within a larger country or nation.