Exploration on the Northwest Territory started around the 17th century by French explorers and traders and continued the following century by French, British colonists and American seabord colonies. It was under British control until 1783 when the Treaty of Paris was signed and the land became part of the U.S. territory.
An Ordinance established in 1787 prohibited slavery in the Northwest territory. During 1788 American pioneers established the first permanent settlements in the Northwest Territory. These Americans were looking for greener and more productive lands. So the correct answer would be farmers, because there was great potential for growing crops.
