"There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." — Northwest Ordinance, Article VI, 1787
Which long-term consequence of the provision shown is most significant?
- A
It outlawed slavery throughout all U.S. territories permanently
- Bcheck_circle
It set a precedent that helped establish the Ohio River as a sectional dividing line
- C
It returned the Northwest lands to British control
- D
It granted full citizenship to Native peoples in the territory
Explanation
Banning slavery north of the Ohio while leaving it untouched in the southwest helped harden the future free/slave divide that defined antebellum sectionalism.