Northwest Territory

:For other geographical names that use the term Northwest, see Northwest.

Law and government

Main article: Northwest Ordinance

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At first the territory had a modified form of martial law. The governor was also the senior army officer within the territory and he combined legislative and executive authority. But, a supreme court was established, and he shared legislative powers with the court. County governments were organized as soon as the population was sufficient, and these assumed local administrative and judicial functions. Washington County was the first of these, at Marietta in 1788. Hamilton County at Cincinnati followed in 1790. (These areas later became part of Ohio.)

Related Topics:
Territory - Martial law - Governor - Army - Officer - Legislative - Executive authority - Supreme court - Court - County - Population - Administrative - Judicial - Washington County - Marietta - 1788 - Hamilton County - Cincinnati - 1790 - Ohio

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As soon as the number of settlers exceeded 5,000 the Territorial Legislature was to be created, and this happened in 1798. The full mechanisms of government were put in place, as outlined in the Northwest Ordinance. A bicameral legislature consisted of a House of Representatives and a Council. The first House had 22 representatives, two elected by each district (county at the time). The House then nominated 10 citizens to be Council members. The nominations were sent to the U.S. Congress, which appointed five of them as the Council. This assembly became the legislature of the Territory, although the Governor retained veto power.

Related Topics:
Settler - 1798 - Government - Northwest Ordinance - Bicameral legislature - House of Representatives - Council - Representative - Elect - District - Nomination - U.S. Congress - Appoint - Assembly - Legislature - Veto

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Article VI of the Articles of Compact within the Northwest Ordinance prohibited the owning of slaves within the Northwest Territory. However, territorial governments evaded this law by use of indenture lawshttp://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/ihb/publications/terrslavery.html. The Articles of Compact prohibited legal discrimination on the basis of religion within the territory.

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The township formula created by Thomas Jefferson was first implemented in the Northwest Territory through the Land Ordinance of 1785. The square surveys of the Northwest Territory would become a hallmark of the midwest, as sections, townships, counties (and states) were laid out scientifically and land was sold quickly and efficiently (although not without some speculative aberrations).

Related Topics:
Township - Thomas Jefferson - Land Ordinance of 1785 - Section

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