The Issue of Slavery in the Westward Expansion One of the bitterest fruits of westward expansion was the intensification of the slavery extension issue. I support this statement. Westward expansion intensified the slavery extension issue like nothing else could have. It all began simply enough in 1787 when the Ordinance of 1787, better known as the Northwest Ordinance, was passed. The bill structured a government for the west by setting up a governor, secretary and three judges to establish and maintain order. The bill also stated that when a territory reached 60 thousand people