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Territory South of the River Ohio

Territory South of the River Ohio
Organized incorporated territory of United States

1790–1796

Flag of Southwest Territory

Flag

Location of Southwest Territory
Capital Knoxville
Government 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
 •  Tennessee statehood June 1, 1796
Population
 •  1791 35,691 
 •  1795 77,262 
Officials of the Southwest Territory
Office Name Term
Governor William Blount 1790–1796
Secretary Daniel Smith 1790–1796
Judge John McNairy 1790–1796
David Campbell 1790–1796
Joseph Anderson 1790–1796
Council President Griffith Rutherford 1794–1796
Speaker of the House David Wilson 1794–1795
Joseph Hardin 1795–1796
Brigadier General John Sevier 1790–1796
James Robertson 1790–1794
Delegate to Congress James White 1794–1796
Source:

Flag of Southwest Territory

Flag

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.

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 (1772–1776), and later with the failed State of Franklin (1784–1789). 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.


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