What was the primary purpose of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

The primary purpose of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was to provide a system for the admission of new states into the Union. This legislation established a framework that outlined how territories in the Northwest region could transition to statehood. It set forth the requirements for population growth and governance, ensuring that new states would have a similar status and rights as the original states.

This ordinance also emphasized important democratic principles, such as respect for civil liberties and education, making it a foundational document for future territorial governance in the United States. It played a crucial role in the westward expansion of the nation by providing a clear and organized method for handling the settlement of new territories and the integration of these areas into the Union as equal states.