within the townships created by the land ordinance of 1785 one section was set aside for the maintenance of public schools.
within the townships created by the land ordinance of 1785 one section was set aside for the maintenance of public schools.
within the townships created by the land ordinance of 1785 one section was set aside for?
the maintenance of public schools
each western township contained thirty-six square miles of land, planned as a square measuring six miles on each side, which was further subdivided into thirty six lots, each lot containing one square mile of land. the mathematical precision of the planning was the concerted effort of surveyors. each township contained dedicated space for public education and other government uses, as five of the thirty six lots were reserved for government or public purposes. the thirty six lots of each township were numbered accordingly on each township's survey. the centermost land of each township corresponded to lot numbers 15, 16, 21 and 22 on the township survey, with lot number 16 dedicated specifically to public education. as the land ordinance of 1785 stated: "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
while the land ordinance of 1785 created a new england style land system, the northwest ordinance of 1787 determined how the townships would be administered. the northwest ordinance of 1787, like the land ordinance of 1785, was inspired by the new england colonial settlements, and manifested this influence by further encouraging the worship of religion and the spread of education. the northwest ordinance of 1787 stated, "religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." however, the northwest ordinance of 1787 also contained southern characteristics of municipal governance. the southern influence can be felt in the western townships in that once the federal land was dedicated to the particular township, the township was relatively free of the influence of the federal government, and the local municipality was left to govern itself. this manifested itself in public education as well. once the land was dedicated, the actual development of the public schools was the responsibility of the local township or the particular state. although the great ordinances of the 1780s set the framework for a national system of schools by dedicating land across the west, the devolved development and administration by the state and local government led to unique results.
land ordinance of 1785