Southwest Territory
The Territory South of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Southwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 26, 1790, until June 1, 1796, when it was admitted to the United States as the State of Tennessee. The Southwest Territory was created by the Southwest Ordinance from lands of the Washington District that had been ceded to the U.S. federal government by North Carolina. The territory's lone governor was William Blount.
| Territory South of the River Ohio | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organized incorporated territory of United States | |||||||||
| 1790–1796 | |||||||||
Flag | |||||||||
| Capital | Rocky Mount (1790–92) Knoxville (from 1792) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1791 | 35,691 | ||||||||
• 1795 | 77,262 | ||||||||
| Government | |||||||||
| • Type | Organized incorporated territory | ||||||||
| Governor | |||||||||
• 1790–1796 | William Blount | ||||||||
| Secretary | |||||||||
• 1790–1796 | Daniel Smith | ||||||||
| Legislature | Territorial Assembly | ||||||||
• Upper chamber | Territorial Council | ||||||||
• Lower chamber | House of Representatives | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Ceded by North Carolina | April 2, 1790 | ||||||||
• Southwest Ordinance | May 26, 1790 | ||||||||
• House convened | February 24, 1794 | ||||||||
• Full Assembly convened | August 26, 1794 | ||||||||
| June 1, 1796 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
The establishment of the Southwest Territory followed a series of efforts by North Carolina's trans-Appalachian residents to form a separate political entity, initially with the Watauga Association, and later with the failed State of Franklin. North Carolina ceded these lands in April 1790 as payment of obligations owed to the federal government. The territory's residents welcomed the cession, believing the federal government would provide better protection from Indian hostilities. The federal government paid relatively little attention to the territory, however, increasing its residents' desire for full statehood.
Along with Blount, a number of individuals who played prominent roles in early Tennessee history served in the Southwest Territory's administration. These included John Sevier, James Robertson, Griffith Rutherford, James Winchester, Archibald Roane, John McNairy, Joseph McMinn and Andrew Jackson.