On July 13th, 1787 the Congress of the Confederation enacted the Northwest Ordinance. During that summer, delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, were busy debating and drafting the Constitution (which was ratified in September). Beyond that remarkable document, the Northwest Ordinance was no doubt the second most important achievement of that historic convention.
 
Written by Thomas Jefferson and unanimously passed under the Articles of Confederation, the Northwest Ordinance was enacted to formally establish the Northwest Territory as part of the United States. The area encompassed sparsely-settled lands which now include Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and the northeast part of Minnesota.
 
The net effect of the Ordinance was to launch America’s rapid westward expansion.
 
Key parts of the legislation were:
 
• A territorial government was established and procedures put in place for the eventual formation of individual states
 
• Prohibition of slavery and involuntary servitude within the territory
 
• Free land grants for colleges and universities
 
Your average drone would no doubt find several of the Ordinance’s passages stunning. For example:
 
Article I.
No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner, shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments, in the said territory.
 
Article III.
Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.
The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them.
 
Get that?
Slavery would be forever banned in the territory.
Religion, morality and education would be promoted.
And Native Americans would be treated fairly and humanely.
 
Before the Constitution was even ratified.
 
Pretty radical stuff for a bunch of evil, white, male slaveholders.
 
In fact, the language and provisions of this one document, effectively put the lie to the progressive narrative that the founders were a bunch of racists intent on wiping out Native Americans, enslaving black Africans and marginalizing religion.
Which, of course, is why the Left either distorts or pointedly ignores this important chapter of our history.
 
When, according to a 2010 survey, 26% of Americans were unable to correctly answer a basic question like – “From which country did the United States win its independence?” – how many of them do you suppose have even heard of the Northwest Ordinance? A document so significant that Benjamin Rush had this to say about it at the time it was adopted:
 

The Founding Fathers, with their prescience, wisdom and efforts to promote religion, morality and education, would be astonished and ashamed at the level of ignorance among contemporary Americans.