Northwestern was founded in 1851 by John Evans, for whom the City of Evanston is named, and eight other lawyers, businessmen and Methodist leaders. Its founding purpose was to serve the Northwest Territory, an area that today includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota. Instruction began in 1855; women were admitted in 1869. Today, the main campus is a 240-acre (97 ha) parcel in Evanston, along the shores of Lake Michigan just 12 miles north of downtown Chicago. The university's law, medical, and professional schools are located on a 25-acre (10 ha) campus in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood. In 2008, the university opened a campus in Education City, Doha, Qatar with programs in journalism and communication. 

The foundation of Northwestern University is traceable to a meeting on May 31, 1850 of nine prominent Chicago businessmen, Methodist leaders and attorneys who had formed the idea of establishing a university to serve what had once been known as the Northwest Territory. On January 28, 1851, the Illinois General Assembly granted a charter to the Trustees of the North-Western University, making it the first chartered university in Illinois. The school's nine founders, all of whom were Methodists (three of them ministers), knelt in prayer and worship before launching their first organizational meeting. Although they affiliated the university with the Methodist Episcopal Church, they were committed to non-sectarian admissions, believing that Northwestern should serve all people in the newly developing territory.
Why was Northwestern University established?
What year was it founded?
By whom?
What is it's purpose?
What areas of the US does it serve?
When did they begin to teach there?
Were woman able to go there at first?
How big is the main campus?
Where is their law and medical schools located?
When was the Education City campus opened?
What programs are there?
Who can the foundation be traced back to?
What idea did the come up with?
What happened in January 1851?
Was this the first chartered university in Illois?
Is it affliated with anyone/anything?
What?
Are only Methodist's allowed to attend?
Who granted the Charter status?
What year did this take place?
to serve what had once been known as the Northwest Territory.
he idea of establishing a university to serve what had once been known as the Northwest Territory.
1851
Northwestern was founded in 1851
John Evans
 by John Evans
to serve the Northwest Territory
Its founding purpose was to serve the Northwest Territory
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota
 an area that today includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota
1855
Instruction began in 1855;
No
 women were admitted in 1869
240-acre
he main campus is a 240-acre (
Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood.
 in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood.
In 2008
. In 2008, the university opened a campus in Education City, Doha, Qatar
journalism and communication.
with programs in journalism and communication. 
a meeting on May 31, 1850 of nine prominent Chicago businessmen, Methodist leaders and attorneys
 a meeting on May 31, 1850 of nine prominent Chicago businessmen, Methodist leaders and attorneys
establishing a university to serve what had once been known as the Northwest Territory.
who had formed the idea of establishing a university to serve what had once been known as the Northwest Territory. 
On January 28, 1851, the Illinois General Assembly granted a charter to the Trustees of the North-Western University,
On January 28, 1851, the Illinois General Assembly granted a charter to the Trustees of the North-Western University,
Yes
making it the first chartered university in Illinois. 
Yes
 Although they affiliated the university with the Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
with the Methodist Episcopal Church
No
they were committed to non-sectarian admissions, believing that Northwestern should serve all people in the newly developing territory.
Illinois General Assembly
the Illinois General Assembly
1851
1851