Names________________________________________________

Land Ordinance of 1785 and

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

In this exercise, we'll see how these two pieces of legislation changed the face of America. This is a participation assignment, and it's fun! With one or two partners, possibly as assigned, visit the sites linked below. If you want to see a specific area, go to the home page of the site http://www.terraserver.microsoft.com/, and click on a spot on the map.
Note: NONE of the links below are taken from the lands described by the Northwest Ordinance, but ALL of the aerial photos depict a "before" or "after" view of how land should be surveyed and divided.

Each of the links will open in a new window. When you've finished looking at the link, either toggle back to this page ("Alt" & "Tab" keys, or click on the Explorer tab in the task bar), and continue to the next link.

First, look at the little farming community of Conrad.

1.What state is this?
2. Notice that the land is divided into various parcels, but there are bright lines outlining definite squares. How much land is included in each grid you see here? How many acres? Square miles?
3. What do you think are the lines going north-south, and east-west?
4.Click on a portion of the town in the upper right hand corner. Can you see how the town itself has been divided according to provisions of the Land Ordinances?
5. How far west do you think this pattern holds true?
Compare the difference of the previous images with land claimed and occupied prior to the land ordinances.

Gettysburg, PA
Columbia, Kentucky and
Union, South Carolina

6. How do these images differ from the first two?
7. Which picture do you think presents a likelihood of boundary disputes between property owners? Why?

9. Where is the park boundary? (you can zoom out by clicking on the left side of the slider scale) How has the boundary been affected by the Land Ordinances?

10. What's this? Can you tell what's going on in this picture? Why do these fields appear to be circles? Approximately how many acres are there in each circle?

11. Based on the images you've viewed, describe how the Land Ordinances of 1785 and 1787 altered the landscape of America.

12. What benefit is there to the system of townships, ranges and sections?