The US Land Ordinance of 1785: A Blueprint for American Expansion

How did the US Land Ordinance of 1785 divide the country?

A. counties and states

B. cities and townships

C. townships and counties

D. states and districts

E. townships and ranges

Answer:

The US Land Ordinance of 1785 divided the country into a system of townships and ranges.

The US Land Ordinance of 1785, part of the Northwest Ordinances, played a crucial role in American history by establishing a system of townships and ranges. The main purpose of this division was to facilitate the sale of land to citizens, generating revenue for the early American government and aiding in western expansion.

This ordinance mandated the division of the territory into townships of six square miles, although some sources mention thirty-six square miles as well. Each township could then be further divided into smaller sections of varying acreage, with provisions for schools and other public needs.

Contrary to common misconception, the US Land Ordinance of 1785 did not create counties and states or cities and townships. Instead, it focused on the division into townships and ranges to prepare the land for sale and settlement. The formation of new states in the area below the Great Lakes was guided by a different directive, the Ordinance of 1784.

These Land Ordinances were significant in shaping the western expansion of the United States and establishing a framework for the admission of new states. They paved the way for the structural layout of the country as we know it today.