What was an act of continental congress which initially organized the first US territory and was to be the basis for governing how the US would expand westward?

Answer 1

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was an act of the Continental Congress that organized the first U.S. territory beyond the Appalachian Mountains, specifically the Northwest Territory. It established a framework for governance and the admission of new states, setting important precedents for the expansion of the United States westward. The ordinance also included provisions for civil liberties and the prohibition of slavery in the territory, influencing the future development of the nation.