What was the importance of the northwest ordinance of 1787

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787, the most important of the three acts, laid the basis for the government of the Northwest Territory and for the admission of its constituent parts as states into the union.

gave rules for territorial expansion and the admission of new states BUT maybe balanced the number of free and slave states in America.

Explanation:

The polices of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 not only fostered westward expansion but also took steps to legislate for public education and to limit slavery in the newly added territories.