Historic Documents of the United States America is the first country founded on the idea that a people can govern themselves. This section offers the documents and writings that have described our nation's philosophy. .
Toward A Revolution The Albany Plan of Union [1754] The Sugar Act [1764] The Currency Act [1764] The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved [1764] The New York Petition to the House of Commons [1764] The Stamp Act [1765] The Quartering Act [1765] The Objections to the Taxation of our American Colonies by the Legislature of Great Britain, briefly consider'd. [1765] Resolves of the Pennsylvania Assembly on the Stamp Act [1765] Resolutions of the Stamp Act [1765] Answer of the Massachusetts Assembly to Governor Bernard [1765] Declaration of Rights [1765] The Declaratory Act [1766] The Townshend Act [1767] Account of the Boston Massacre - Anonymous [1770] Account of the Boston Massacre by Captain Thomas Preston [1770] Boston Massacre Oration - Dr. Joseph Warren [1772] The Rights of the Colonists [1772] The Tea Act [1773] Boston Tea Party - Eyewitness Account by a Participant [1773] Boston Massacre Oration - John Hancock [1774] The Boston Port Act [1774] The Massachusetts Government Act [1774] The Administration of Justice Act [1774] The Quartering Act [1774] The Quebec Act [1774]	....	The American Revolution The Suffolk Resolves [1774] A Plan for the Union of Great Britain and the Colonies [1774] Declaration of Rights [1774] William Pitt's Speech on the Stamp Act [1775] Boston Massacre Oration - Dr. Joseph Warren [1775] Edmund Burke's Speech on Conciliation with America [1775] Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death - Patrick Henry [1775] Paul Revere's Account of His Midnight Ride to Lexington [1775] The Charlotte Town Resolves [1775] Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms [1775] A Proclamation, by The King, for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition [1775] The Olive Branch Petition [1775] Common Sense - Thomas Paine [1776] The True Interest of America Impartially Stated [1776] The Virginia Declaration of Rights [1776] The Constitution of Virginia [1776] The Declaration of Independence [1776] The Articles of Confederation [submitted 1776 - passed 1778 - ratified 1781] Concord Town Meeting Resolution [1776] Draft for a Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom [1779] The American Crisis - Thomas Paine [1780] Articles of Capitulation [1781] The Paris Peace Treaty [1783]
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Founding Of A Nation Reason: The Only Oracle Of Man - Ethan Allen [1784] The Annapolis Convention [1786] Northwest Ordinance [1787] Letter Transmitting the Constitution to the President of Congress [1787] Federalist No. 10 - The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection [1788] The Constitution of the United States [1788] George Washington - First Inaugural Address [1789] Address of the Senate to President George Washington [1789] The Bill of Rights [1789] Thanksgiving Proclamation [1789] The First State of the Union Address [1790] George Washington - Second Inaugural Address [1793] The Whiskey Rebellion [1794] Age of Reason - Thomas Paine [1794] Part One Age of Reason - Thomas Paine [1795] Part Two Transcription of the Final Manuscript of Washington's Farewell Address [1796] John Adams - Inaugural Address [1797] The Sedition Act [1798] The Virginia Resolution [1798] The Kentucky Resolution [1799] Thomas Jefferson - First Inaugural Address [1801] Thomas Jefferson - Second Inaugural Address [1805] James Madison - First Inaugural Address [1809] James Madison - Second Inaugural Address [1813] The Star Spangled Banner [1814] James Monroe - First Inaugural Address [1817] James Monroe - Second Inaugural Address [1821] John Quincy Adams - First Inaugural Address [1825] Andrew Jackson - First Inaugural Address [1829] Andrew Jackson - Second Inaugural Address [1833]		A Country At War With Itself Abraham Lincoln - First Inaugural Address [1861] Emancipation Proclamation [1862] Gettysburg Address - Abraham Lincoln [1863] Abraham Lincoln - Second Inaugural Address [1865]