What is the 1787 Northwest Ordinance?
Preview of Main Points This lesson defines the Northwest Ordinance. Main ideas in the document are clarified and discussed. Ideas on governance and civil liberties and rights are highlighted. Curriculum Connection This lesson is suitable for use in American history courses in junior high/middle schools and in high school courses in American history, government, and civics. Teachers of junior high/middle school students, however, might want to assign only items 1 to 3 at the end of the lesson; items 4 to 6 are more complicated and challenging. High school history and government teachers might want to have their students read the Northwest Ordinance in addition to the material for students provided in this lesson. Objectives Students are expected to: • Define key terms in the Northwest Ordinance. • Describe main characteristics of the process by which a territory could move to statehood under the Northwest Ordinance. • Identify civil liberties and rights guaranteed by the Northwest Ordin
