The rectangular survey system established by the Land Ordinance of 1785 primarily uses which basic unit?

The rectangular survey system established by the Land Ordinance of 1785 primarily uses the township as its basic unit of measurement. In this framework, land is divided into a grid composed of townships that each typically cover 6 miles by 6 miles, creating an area of 36 square miles. Each township is further divided into sections, with one township containing 36 sections, each measuring 1 mile by 1 mile.

The township serves as the fundamental building block for organizing land and establishing a systematic approach to land distribution and ownership. This system was designed to facilitate the surveying and selling of land, making it easier to identify parcels and manage property rights across vast areas.

While sections and parcels are indeed vital components within this survey system, they are subdivisions of the township, not the primary unit itself. A lot refers to a smaller piece of land or a specific area within a section or a subdivision and does not represent the foundational unit in this context. Thus, the township is the most appropriate answer when discussing the primary unit utilized in the rectangular survey system.