Southwest Territory: Polity Style: 1790-1796

22 Dec 1789	the members of the United States Congress from North Carolina are authorized to convey all right, title and claim to a territory within the chartered limits of North Carolina to the United States, in accordance with an act passed and ratified in the General Assembly of North Carolina on 22 Dec 1789 (North Carolina Session Laws 1789, pp. 3-4) [1]
25 Feb 1790	the territory as described in the act of the General Assembly is ceded by North Carolina to the United States, in accordance with a deed executed by members of the United States Congress from North Carolina, which was sealed and signed in New York on 25 Feb 1790 (Statutes at Large, 1:106-108)
2 Apr 1790	the cession of the territory by North Carolina is accepted by an act passed by the Congress of the United States (Senate on 5 Mar 1790, House of Representatives on 29 Mar 1790 with an amendment, Senate concurred in House amendments on 29 Mar 1790 with an amendment, Senate concurred in House amendment on 30 Mar 1790), signed into law on 2 Apr 1790 (Statutes at Large, 1:106-108) [2]
26 May 1790	the territory ceded by North Carolina constituted a territory of the United States in accordance with an act passed by the Congress of the United States (Senate on 14 Apr 1790, House of Representatives on 29 Apr 1790 with amendments, Senate rejected House amendments on on 4 May 1790, House withdrew the amendments on 5 May 1790), signed into law 26 May 1790 (Statutes at Large, 1:123) [3]
23 Oct 1790	the territorial government is established with the reading of the act of Congress of 26 May 1790, accepting the cession, and governor's commission at a public meeting in Jonesborough (Territorial Papers, 4:429-433)
23 Oct 1790 - 6 Feb 1796	Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio
6 Feb 1796	the people of the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio form a free and independent state by the name of the State of Tennessee, in accordance with the Constitution adopted at the session of a Convention held at Knoxville on 6 Feb 1796 (Tennessee Convention 1796, p. 32) [4]

Full title: An Act for the Purpose of ceding to the United States of America, certain Western Lands therein described.
Full title: An Act to accept a cession of the claims of the state of North Carolina to a certain district of Western territory.
Full title: An Act for the Government of the Territory of the United States, south of the river Ohio.
Following the adoption of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee, the governor, secretary, judges, and other officers of the territorial government were authorized by a provision of the Constitution to continue in office until superseded.