Which 1787 U.S. law organized the Northwest Territory and set rules for admitting new states?

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 organized the Northwest Territory and established a process for creating and admitting new states. Congress adopted it under the Articles of Confederation on July 13, 1787.

The territory covered land north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. The ordinance divided the region into territorial government, then allowed communities to progress toward statehood as their population and institutions developed.

It also prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory, although the ordinance did not end slavery elsewhere in the United States. The measure included protections for property, religious practice, education, and legal rights, while also stating that Native American lands should not be taken without consent.

The Northwest Ordinance became an important model for later territorial administration. States formed from the territory included Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota, making the law a major step in the country’s early expansion.