Which ordinance outlawed slavery in the Old Northwest?

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 is the correct answer because it established a framework for governance of the territories that would become the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota. One of the significant provisions of this ordinance was the outright prohibition of slavery in these territories. This action reflected the shifting attitudes toward slavery in the northern states and marked a pivotal moment in the early legislative efforts to restrict slavery's expansion in the United States.

The ordinance also laid out a process for admitting new states to the Union and emphasized the importance of education and civil liberties, further underscoring its progressive nature compared to other legislative measures of the time. This legality of banning slavery in the Old Northwest was foundational in setting a precedent that influenced the future debates over slavery in newly formed territories and states.

The other options provided do not address the question of slavery directly. The Land Ordinance of 1785 focused on the survey and sale of land in the northwest territories but did not include provisions regarding slavery. The Federalist Papers were a series of essays advocating for the ratification of the Constitution, and while they touched on federal governance and rights, they did not specifically outlaw slavery. The Great Compromise was a crucial agreement regarding legislative representation