Ordinance of 1784

• Author: Dennis J. Mahoney
• Pages: 1856

Page 1856

One of the most important constitutional questions of the founding era was that of the status of the western TERRITORIES. In 1783, as a concession to secure ratification of the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION, states with claims to western lands ceded them to Congress. In April 1784 Congress adopted an ordinance of government for the ceded territory drafted by THOMAS JEFFERSON. That ordinance, although it never went into effect, embodied the principle that the territories were not to be mere colonies but would become states within the Union. The principle was fulfilled under the NORTHWEST ORDINANCE and the Constitution.

The Ordinance of 1784 created eight "states" in the West and prescribed for them three stages of evolution culminating in full equality with the original thirteen states. But, unlike the Northwest Ordinance, which provided for gradual advance toward self-government by the settlers, the Ordinance of 1784 conferred self-government...