The Northwest Ordinance established its territorial framework in 1787.
Adopted by the Confederation Congress on July 13, 1787, the ordinance governed the territory north and west of the Ohio River. It created a process by which territories could become states rather than remaining permanent colonies of the national government.
The ordinance initially provided for a territorial government led by an appointed governor and judges. Once a territory reached 5,000 free adult males, it could elect a legislature. When its population reached 60,000 free inhabitants, it could apply for statehood. The measure ultimately shaped Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, as well as part of Minnesota.
The ordinance also prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory and protected certain civil liberties, including religious freedom and trial by jury. It did not resolve every issue involving Indigenous nations or land ownership, and its promises were often contradicted by later U.S. expansion.