American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

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What system was established by the Ordinance of 1785?

A rectangular survey coordinates system
A zoning regulation framework
A network of state highways
A city land use plan

The correct answer is: A rectangular survey coordinates system

The Ordinance of 1785 established a rectangular survey coordinates system, which was a pivotal development in the organization and sale of public lands in the United States. This system aimed to facilitate the survey and division of land into townships and sections, making it easier for settlers and the government to map, manage, and sell land in an orderly fashion. It divided lands into a grid of squares, facilitating the establishment of a standardized method of land description. By using a systematic approach to land division, the ordinance provided a framework that supported westward expansion and encouraged settlement. This rectangular survey system was instrumental in ensuring that land could be easily located, which helped in the swift development of frontier areas and the growth of agriculture in the new states. The other options do not accurately reflect the purpose of the Ordinance of 1785. Zoning regulations, state highways networks, and city land use plans are related to urban planning and development but were not components of the ordinance, which specifically addressed land survey methods.