Founding1787
Northwest Ordinance Bill of Rights Adopted
The final text of the Northwest Ordinance included a bill of rights guaranteeing freedom of religion, habeas corpus, trial by jury, proportionate punishments, and the sanctity of private contracts. These protections predated the federal Bill of Rights by four years.
Why It Matters
The civil liberties protections in the Northwest Ordinance served as a precursor to the Bill of Rights, demonstrating that the Founders considered individual rights essential to the expansion of republican government.