Question

The Northwest Ordinance and the Missouri Compromise of 1820 were similar in that both documents

• A. set guidelines on the number of new states to be established.
• B. admitted new states into the Union.
• C. established public schools in new territories.
• D. provided for the fair treatment of the Native American population.
• E. restricted slavery in areas yet to be admitted as states.

Answer 1

The correct option is E restricted slavery in areas yet to be admitted as states.

Both the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the Missouri Compromise of 1820 restricted slavery in areas yet to be admitted as states. The Northwest Ordinance forbade slavery in the Northwest Territory, while the Missouri Compromise forbade slavery north of the 36° 30' line of north latitude across the Louisiana Purchase. The Northwest Ordinance provided that no less than three or more than five states were to be created in that territory, but the Missouri Compromise contained no such guidelines (A). The Missouri Compromise provided for the admission of Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state, but no new states were admitted to the Union by the Northwest Ordinance (B). Land for public schools was set aside by the Land Ordinance of 1785 and mentioned in the Northwest Ordinance, but the Missouri Compromise does not discuss this issue (C). The Northwest Ordinance provided for fair treatment of the Native American population, while the Missouri Compromise does not address this issue (D).