Which 1787 ordinance created a plan for governing the Northwest Territory?

The Northwest Ordinance created a plan for governing the Northwest Territory in 1787.

Congress of the Confederation adopted the measure on July 13, 1787. The territory covered land north and west of the Ohio River, including areas that later became Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota. It established a system by which territories could eventually become states.

The ordinance set population thresholds and other steps for territorial government and statehood. It also prohibited slavery in the territory, making it one of the most significant antislavery measures enacted by the early national government. The document promised civil liberties and encouraged public education.

The Northwest Ordinance is sometimes confused with the Land Ordinance of 1785, which primarily established a survey and sale system for western lands. The 1787 ordinance focused on political organization and admission of new states.