What survey system did the US Government begin using in 1785 to dispose of the Northwest Territory?

Prepare for the Maryland Title Insurance Test with targeted multiple-choice questions, including hints and explanations for each to help you succeed. Get ready to ace your exam!

The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) was established by the U.S. Government in 1785 as a systematic way to survey, divide, and distribute land in the Northwest Territory. This system allowed for the organization of land into a uniform grid to facilitate land sales and settlement, ensuring that the land could be accurately identified, mapped, and allocated to individuals or groups.

The PLSS divides land into townships and sections, making it easier to reference and convey property. It has significant historical importance as it laid the foundation for land distribution policies that influenced the growth and development of the western United States. This systematic approach also helped in resolving land disputes and provided a clear method for land ownership documentation.

While the other answer choices refer to various survey methods or concepts, they do not accurately represent the survey system adopted specifically for the Northwest Territory in 1785. The Northwest Territory survey system itself is not a formally recognized term, and the Meridian and Baseline system applies to different geographic contexts. The Thomas Jefferson Land Lot System, while influential in land distribution, is not the correct term used for the systematic surveying established in the Northwest Territory. Thus, the Public Land Survey System is indeed the correct answer.

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