David McCullough on the Northwest Territory

Main Ideas

The Northwest Territory—the land north and west of the Ohio River—was roughly as large as the original 13 colonies combined. It eventually became five states: Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. David McCullough describes it as creating “a new America.”

Passed the same summer the Constitution was signed, the Northwest Ordinance established three key requirements for the territory:

1. Freedom of religion
2. Public support for education, from grade school through college—a policy McCullough links to the rise of state universities
3. No slavery

The ban on slavery marked a significant contrast with the original 13 states, where slavery existed in every state, despite the Declaration of Independence’s claim that all people are created equal.

McCullough says Manasseh Cutler helped bring about the ordinance by lobbying Congress. Ohio University’s Cutler Hall is named for him.

Speaker Featured

• David McCullough — discusses the Northwest Territory and the Northwest Ordinance.