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The Northwest Territory (yellow area) was bounded on the west by the Mississippi, on the south by the Ohio River, and north and east by Canada and the Great Lakes.
America's Godly heritage sets forth the beliefs of many of the Founding Fathers concerning the proper role of Christian principles in education, government, and the public affairs of the nation.
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n July 13, 1787, the Continental Congress
of the United States passed an important law. This was the "Northwest
Ordinance," which declared that the United States intended to settle the
region North of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi. It set up
a method by which new states would be admitted to the Union and said that
five could be carved from the "Northwest" territory.
The method of admitting new states that was set out in the Northwest
Ordinance was used, right up to the fiftieth with only a few minor changes.
The new states that were added got exactly the same rights and powers
as the old. Federal taxes were to be assessed on the new states using
the same formula as governed the old states. In other words, the new states
were equal with the old. But the Northwest Ordinance did more than concern
itself with adding states to the union.
Slavery was forbidden (although fugitive slaves could be tracked and
taken back south). The act made a gesture toward protecting the Indians
and their land. The Ordinance also established a bill of rights. Up to
this time, this had been lacking.
Among those rights was an important promise of religious tolerance: "No
person, demeaning [conducting] himself in a peaceable and orderly manner,
shall ever be molested [harassed or bothered] on account of his mode of
worship or religious sentiments," said the writers. This was in keeping
with the widely accepted belief of Americans that men and women were individually
responsible for their consciences. To force belief, it was widely thought,
would violate Christ's teaching that we must "worship in Spirit and in
truth."
Another provision of the Northwest Ordinance showed the importance that
Congress attached to religion and religious freedom. Article Three declared,
"Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government
and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall
forever be encouraged." In those days, schools were most often run by
churches.
Of course, men being what they are, these provisions were sometimes neglected.
Indian land was grabbed. Prejudice against Catholics and Mormons sometimes
resulted in their unfair treatment. It is doubtful the state governments
of these areas have "forever" encouraged religious schools.
But on the whole, this ordinance was wise and is regarded as one of the
most worthwhile actions taken by the Continental Congress.
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