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Difficulty: EasyThe Articles of Confederation and the Northwest Territory

“There shall be reserved the lot No. 16, of every township, for the maintenance of public schools within the said township...”
—Land Ordinance of 1785

Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of reserving “lot No. 16” in each township under the Land Ordinance of 1785?

  1. A
    To establish a national bank and federal treasury offices in the West
  2. To fund and support local public educationAnswer
  3. C
    To provide land grants directly to Revolutionary War veterans as pension payments
  4. D
    To raise revenue to pay off British colonial taxes imposed before the Revolutionary War

Answer

The primary purpose of reserving lot number 16 was to fund and support local public education.
The correct option is correct because the Land Ordinance of 1785 explicitly reserved Lot 16 of every surveyed township to generate revenue for the maintenance of local public schools, representing the first federal commitment to supporting public education.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the specific provision in the Land Ordinance of 1785 referenced in the excerpt.
The excerpt states that 'lot No. 16' is reserved for the 'maintenance of public schools' within each township.
Understanding the text of the ordinance is the first step to identifying its intended purpose.
2
Analyze the historical significance of this educational provision.
The reservation of Lot 16 established the precedent of federal support for public education in newly settled territories.
This connects the text to the broader historical context of land policy under the Articles of Confederation.
3
Select the option that matches the identified purpose.
The option stating that the purpose was to fund and support local public education is correct.
This directly aligns with the text and the historical intent of the ordinance.

Key Concept

Federal land policy and support for public education under the Articles of Confederation.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

The Articles of Confederation and the Northwest Territory

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