The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 called for educational institutions as part of the settlement and eventual statehood of the Northwest Territory: "Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." In 1797, settlers from Marietta traveled up the Hocking River to establish a location for the school. At first called American Western University, Ohio University was founded on February 18, 1804, a year after Ohio was admitted to the Union.