The Northwest Ordinance established rules for what?

The Northwest Ordinance established rules for what?

• A. Established rules for adding new states to the U.S.
• B. Created the first national bank
• C. Granted nationwide suffrage
• D. Regulated interstate commerce

Answer: (A)

The Northwest Ordinance laid out how new states could come into the United States. It created a step-by-step process for turning the Northwest Territory into states on an equal footing with existing ones. In practical terms, the territory would start under appointed officials, then residents could elect a territorial government, and once the population reached about 60,000 free inhabitants, they could draft a state constitution and petition Congress for admission. It also established that new states would be admitted with the same status as the original states and included protections for rights and the prohibition of slavery in that territory. This is why the correct choice describes rules for adding new states. The other options refer to policies or institutions not governed by the Northwest Ordinance.

The Northwest Ordinance laid out how new states could come into the United States. It created a step-by-step process for turning the Northwest Territory into states on an equal footing with existing ones. In practical terms, the territory would start under appointed officials, then residents could elect a territorial government, and once the population reached about 60,000 free inhabitants, they could draft a state constitution and petition Congress for admission. It also established that new states would be admitted with the same status as the original states and included protections for rights and the prohibition of slavery in that territory. This is why the correct choice describes rules for adding new states. The other options refer to policies or institutions not governed by the Northwest Ordinance.