Kansas Constitution (1858)

The Kansas Constitution said: "Religion, morality, and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the legislature to make suitable provision...for the encouragement of schools and the means of instruction."

After passing the Northwest Ordinance, Congress later required that all territories becoming states must have Constitutions that were "not repugnant to the Northwest Ordinance." That is why the language of so many state constitutions contains phrases similar to the above. Notice the tie-in between schools and religion. Keep in mind that the Northwest Ordinance was passed by the same folks who approved the First Amendment.