In 1787, a series of long-lasting territorial disputes between states culminated in a new set of guidelines for a vast swath of North American land. In the process, the debates over the Northwest Territory brought slavery to the forefront of national political discussion for the first time. In this video, I explain. In my book, Compact of the Republic, I explained why the year 1787 was one of the most important and defining years of US history: https://amzn.to/2xUcvF8 Best books on this topic: -Frederick Williams, The Northwest Ordinance: Essays on its Formulation, Provisions, and Legacy: https://amzn.to/2FfbMEt -Peter Onuf, Statehood and Union: A History of the Northwest Ordinance: https://amzn.to/2qE77lt -Gordon Wood, Creation of the American Republic: https://amzn.to/2Dk5Ng6 -Nathan Coleman, The American Revolution, State Sovereignty, and the American Constitutional Settlement: https://amzn.to/2DcCoED