Land ordinace of 1785

Answer 1

When passed, the Land Ordinance of 1785 applied to the "Northwest Territory" ceded mostly by Virginia to the United States, which included all land west of Pennsylvania and north of the Ohio River extending west to the Mississippi River. This included all or parts of the present-day states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The 1785 ordinance provided for the survey of these public lands and their division into townships, sections, etc for sale by the government. This came to be known as the Public Land Survey System, or PLSS.

As the country expanded, the provisions of the land ordinance were expanded as well. The only exception was Texas, which had been an independent republic before entry into the union. So, with the exception of the original 13 states, Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas, the entire United States was affected by the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the PLSS.

Answer 2

The United States in 1785 was "land rich" after states ceded their western lands. The Land Ordinance of 1785 was the United state's plan to occupy the land and earn some money ( America was poor at the time). They made the land available to common people by dividing up the land (sectionalism). By making the plots smaller it became affordable and organized. The government generally divided the land into townships of 36 square miles, and then further into 36 1 square mile sections. An individual or family could easily purchase a section or quarter section now that it was affordable.

Answer 3

The Land Ordinance of 1785 says that Congress cannot raise revenue by taxation. It is listed under the Articles of Confederation.

Answer 4

The Land Ordinance of 1785 laid the foundations of land policy until passage of the Homestead Act in 1862.

Answer 5

1785