Transcript Northwest Ordinance of 1787

The date listed July 13, 1787
Under the
Articles of Confederation





The ordinance is based on earlier
recommendations of Thomas Jefferson
Western lands, north of the Ohio river, west
of the Alleghenies, and east of the
Mississippi river considered N.W. Territory
This area was to be settled and become
states on par with the existing states
The ordinance provided the following:
No fewer than 3 or more than 5 states
would be formed




The map enclosed includes Kentucky & Tennessee
which are south of the Ohio River and were not part
of the northwest territory
The Northwest Ordinance is considered one of the
most important document produced under the
Articles of Confederation
Along with the Constitution, Bill of Rights and the
Declaration of Independence, This is considered
the third most important American document.
Ask yourself why this important piece of history
has been ignored?






Admission to the union would be available
when the number of free inhabitants reached
60,000
Civil rights and liberties were guaranteed
Slavery and involuntary servitude were
prohibited
The impact of this legislation was significant in
many ways
It spurred the westward movement of American
settlers
It established a format for American land policy
for years to come




The law provided the first national limitation
upon the expansion of slavery
I have seen some critical comments about the
law and slavery but I consider them 20th
century interpretations (revisionist history)
The constitution did not invent slavery or
condone it. The founders were dealing with a
long standing problem in attempting to form a
union.
In my opinion we would have not survived the
war of 1812 intact without the union.




Education was to be encouraged
This is the important part and in my opinion
why this law has been totally ignored for a
century. (progressives)
Note that formal education was to include
the following:
Religion; “a fundamental system of beliefs
concerning mans origin and relationship to
the Creator, the cosmic universe, and his
relationship to his fellow men”



Morality; “a standard of behavior distinguishing
right from wrong”
Knowledge; “an intellectual awareness and
understanding of established facts relating to
any field of human experience or inquiry, i.e.,
history, geography, science, etc.”
The founding fathers also declared their
conviction that religion and morality were
essential ingredients required for “good
government and the happiness of mankind”

This was reiterated in Washington’s farewell
address






Franklin chose to expound and further clarify
the meaning of Religion as part of the school
curriculum
The five fundamental points in all sound
religion
1. Recognition of a Creator who made all things
2. The Creator has revealed a moral code of
behavior for happy living which distinguishes
right from wrong
3. That the Creator holds mankind responsible
for the way we treat each other
4. That all mankind live beyond this life




5. That in the next life individuals are judged
for their conduct in this one.
The founders sometimes referred to the above
as the “religion of America” and felt them so
important in providing “good government and
happiness of mankind” they wanted them
taught in public schools along with morality
and knowledge
This did not constitute a national religion!
Anyone who declares the founders desired a
separation between church and state is either
ignorant, a liar, or possibly both and definitely
has an agenda.





In my view this has taken on a new importance
with the situation in Nevada
The fact that the federal Govt. has maintained
control of most of the western states violates
the constitution and the wishes of the founding
fathers
Land from the new states was to be sold off to
the states inhabitants
The state should be the authority here
The constitution does not provide federal
control over state land due to wild life