What did the Northwest Ordinance explicitly prohibit?

The Northwest Ordinance, enacted in 1787, was significant legislation that established a framework for the governance and admission of states in the Northwest Territory, which included lands north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. One of its most notable provisions was the explicit prohibition of slavery in this territory. This was a progressive stance at the time, reflecting the growing movements against slavery in certain parts of the United States. The ordinance not only aimed to organize new territories but also sought to promote principles of liberty and civil rights, which included the limitation of slavery.

Prohibition of slavery in the Northwest Territory played a critical role in the expansion of free states versus slave states, influencing the political landscape of the United States for years to come. It allowed the region to develop a different social and economic structure compared to southern states where slavery was prevalent. This distinction contributed to tensions that would later culminate in the Civil War.

The other options reflect aspects that were either permitted or facilitated by the Northwest Ordinance itself, such as the establishment of new territories and the creation of states, and they do not align with the critical provisions regarding slavery. Thus, the correct understanding of the ordinance underscores the historical significance of its prohibition of slavery in shaping the future of the United