In the context of early United States history, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 provided which important measures for the Northwest Territory?

Introduction / Context:
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 is one of the most important legislative acts in early United States history. It laid down rules for governing the Northwest Territory and for admitting new states into the Union. It is also remembered for setting out principles on education, slavery, and civil liberties, which influenced later development in the region and beyond.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

• The options mention public education, banning slavery, and protecting civil rights.

• One option states that all of these measures were included.

• The task is to identify whether the ordinance addressed only some or all of these ideas.

Concept / Approach:
The Northwest Ordinance established a framework for governance of the Northwest Territory, which later became states such as Ohio and Indiana. It contained a famous article declaring that religion, morality, and knowledge were necessary to good government and encouraged the establishment of schools. It also prohibited slavery within the territory and guaranteed certain civil rights, including freedom of religion and rights to due process. Therefore, the most accurate summary is that it included all of the measures listed in the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Northwest Ordinance prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory, making it a free territory. Step 2: Remember that it included a statement about the importance of religion, morality, and knowledge, and encouraged education by supporting the establishment of schools and land set aside for that purpose. Step 3: Note that the ordinance guaranteed basic civil liberties, such as freedom of religion, the right to trial by jury, and protections against cruel punishments. Step 4: Compare these points with the options, seeing that each one refers to a real aspect of the ordinance. Step 5: Conclude that the best description is the combined option stating that all of the above measures were included.

Verification / Alternative check:
Documents summarising the Northwest Ordinance list its main provisions: a process for creating new states on an equal footing with the original states, the banning of slavery in the territory, the protection of civil rights, and support for public education. Many educational materials highlight the clause about schools and the statement that religion, morality, and knowledge are important. Taken together, these confirm that the ordinance dealt with education, slavery, and civil rights in the ways described in the options.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Saying that it only provided for public education would ignore the equally important clauses on slavery and civil rights.

• Saying that it only banned slavery would overlook its broader constitutional and social provisions, including education and liberties.

• Saying that it only protected civil rights would miss the significant stance the ordinance took against slavery and its support for schooling.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes focus on just one famous feature, such as the ban on slavery, and forget that the ordinance also promoted education and civil liberties. Others may not connect the phrase Northwest Ordinance with these specific provisions. A good strategy is to remember that this ordinance was a comprehensive framework that combined territorial governance rules with progressive statements about education, liberty, and the status of slavery, making the all of the above option the correct one.

Final Answer:
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 provided for All of the above measures together.