Thomas Jefferson’s 1784 Northwest Territory Map Proposal #197440 (License: Personal Use)

This 19th-century illustration depicts Thomas Jefferson’s 1784 Ordinance proposal for organizing the Northwest Territory into ten rectangular states, each named with classical or poetic flair-such as Sylvania, Assenisiipia, and Polypotamia. Though never implemented, the plan influenced later territorial governance and reflected Enlightenment ideals of rational land division. The map highlights latitude-based boundaries and includes a footnote noting Jefferson’s prophetic naming despite never having seen the West.

Used in educational history websites, museum exhibits, and academic articles about early U.S. westward expansion, territorial policy, and Jefferson’s political philosophy; targets users researching American founding documents or cartographic history.