What legislation, passed in 1787, set up a system for territories to enter the union as states and banned slavery in the Northwest territory?

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 is significant because it established a framework for governing the Northwest Territory, which included areas that would become states such as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. One of the most notable features of this legislation was its provision for admitting new states into the Union on an equal footing with the original states, setting a precedent for the expansion of the United States.

Additionally, the Northwest Ordinance included a crucial provision that banned slavery in the Northwest Territory. This was a progressive legislative action for its time, reflecting the growing division over slavery in the United States. By prohibiting slavery in this region, the ordinance aimed to promote free labor and encourage settlement by families who might be deterred by the presence of slave labor. This framework for statehood and the prohibition of slavery had lasting implications for the development of the nation and the ongoing debates surrounding slavery and state rights.

In contrast, the Land Ordinance of 1784 focused on how the land in the territories would be surveyed and sold, but it did not address the issue of slavery or set up a statehood process. The Articles of Confederation provided a loose framework for national governance but lacked specific provisions for territories and their admission as states. The New Jersey Plan