Indiana History Documents - Land Ordinance of 1785 This is the Land Ordinance of 1785, as written by the Continental Congress. One of a few laws that actually survived the Articles of Confederation period. The Indiana Historical Bureau provides publications, programs, and other opportunities for Indiana citizens of all ages to learn and teach about the history of their communities, the state of Indiana, and their relationships to the nation and the world. with documentslegalpoliticsstatesunited