How was the process in which the the northwest territories became states different from the 13 colonies

The Northwest Ordinance was adopted in 1787 and created a set of rules for admission of new territories. The Ordinance established that the territory would be divided into self-governing districts, each one of those districts would send one representative to Congress upon its attaining a population of 20 thousand and it would become eligible for statehood when its population equaled the least populous existing state.

c. have a great day ~ma.tiah