What was the purpose of the northwest ordinance? a. to serve as a model for bills of rights in several other state constitutions as well as the declaration of independence b. to serve as a detailed plan for settling the territory claimed by the u. s. northwest of the ohio river c. to provide examples of the tyranny that virginians had been enduring at the hand of king george d. to ensure that the population of all new land northwest of the ohio river did not exceed 60,000