Which rights did the Northwest Ordinance help to influence in the US Bill of Rights?

The Northwest Ordinance, enacted in 1787, laid the groundwork for westward expansion and established a framework for governance in the Northwest Territory. A significant aspect of the Northwest Ordinance was its commitment to civil liberties, which set a precedent for the protections later enshrined in the Bill of Rights. It explicitly stated that "there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory," and it emphasized the importance of religious freedom, trial by jury, and other fundamental rights.

These civil liberties enshrined in the Northwest Ordinance influenced the drafters of the Bill of Rights, as they recognized the necessity to protect individual freedoms and limit government power. By doing so, it provided a model for guaranteeing personal rights against state infringement. As a result, many protections found in the Bill of Rights, such as freedom of speech, the press, and religion, reflect the principles laid out in the Northwest Ordinance that promote civil liberties for all citizens.