who wrote the northwest ordinance

The Northwest Ordinance was primarily written by Nathan Dane and Rufus King, with its principles being influenced by Thomas Jefferson's earlier Ordinance of 1784. It was adopted by the Confederation Congress on July 13, 1787. The document established a framework for governing the Northwest Territory and provided a method for admitting new states into the Union, including protections for religious freedom and prohibitions on slavery in the territory. Charles Thomson, the secretary of Congress, signed the final printed document.