Northwest Territory & Shay's Rebellion

​Consisted of the land between the Ohio & Mississippi Rivers

​Original 13 states argued over how to divide up this land

​Land was divided into 6 square mile sections called townships

Townships were  divided into 36 smaller lots (1 sq mile or 640 acres)

One section was set aside for education

Four sections were set aside for veterans

Congress sold the land to provide income for the new country.

​N.W. Territory was divided into 3 – 5 states

Statehood was granted when:

• Population of 60,000 reached

• Freedom of religion guaranteed

• Trial by jury guaranteed

• No slavery allowed

• Massachusetts farmers were unable to pay taxes

• Massachusetts gov. responded by taking their land & throwing them in jail

• Farmers led by Daniel Shay rebelled & attacked a federal arsenal

​Congress had no army to halt the rebellion

Massachusetts was forced to use state militia to end rebellion proving the federal government had no power

Convinced the country that we needed a new government