Question

which best explains why settlers in the Northwest Territory chose to be near Lakes and rivers in the late 1700s

Answer 1

Settlers chose to be near Lakes and Rivers because the land near water is always fertile and rich with nutrients - a perfect place to start farming.

Answer 2

They wanted to use the waterways to transport goods and crops to distant markets.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Northwest Territory was a territory created by the US Congress in 1787, the government created the Northwest Ordinances that organized land policy and territorial government in the area. Most of the settlers preferred to choose land close to the lakes and rivers because the territory was inhabited until that moment, so if they were closer to rivers they would be able to transport goods and crops from a long distance, which would make life easier in that region.