Under the land ordinance of 1785, surveyors were to divide public lands into townships, 6 miles on each side. This would result in a grid, 1 mile on each side. These 36 sections would be sold for no less than $1 an acre. Within each township, one section was set aside to support schools. This reflection the belief of the nation,s leaders that democracy depends on education. Thomas Jefferson later wrote : " If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."_Thomas jefferson, letter to charles Yancey, 1816