The Bill of Rights: Amendments 1-10 to the U.S. Constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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Amendments 11-27 to the U.S. Constitution
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
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The Judiciary Act of 1789
An Act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States on September 24th, 1789.
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Northwest Ordinance
An Ordinance for the government of the Territory of the United States northwest of the River Ohio.
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Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms
The Continental Congress issued this declaration on July 6, 1775, "setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms."
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Declaration of Rights and Grievances
To these grievous acts and measures, Americans cannot submit, but in hopes that their fellow subjects in Great-Britain will, on a revision of them, restore us to that state in which both countries found happiness and prosperity, we have for the present only resolved to pursue the following peaceable measures
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The 95 Theses
As written by Martin Luther and nailed to the church door in Wittenberg on October 31st, 1517.
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Olive Branch Petition
The Continental Congress approved this "Olive Branch" petition to the King on July 5, 1775.
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Journals of the Continental Congress – Articles of War, June 30, 1775
The consideration of the articles of war being resumed, Congress agreed to the same
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Abraham Lincoln Address to 1858 Illinois State Republican Convention
"A house divided against itself cannot stand."
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An Open Letter to Lord North
Printed in The Public Advertiser, April 15, 1774. For the Public Advertiser. To Lord North. Smyrna Coffee-House, April 5. [1774] My Lord, All your small Politicians, who are very numerous in the English Nation, from the patriotic Barber to the patriotic Peer, when big with their Schemes for the Good of poor Old England, imagine they have a Right to […]
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Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Second Virginia Convention
There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.
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Puerto Rico Territorial Constitution, 1952
[Note – Puerto Rico became an Unincorporated Organized US Territory in 1898. In 192, it was designated as a Commonwealth. In 2008, a district judge ruled that a sequence of congressional actions had the overall effect of upgrading Puerto Rico’s status to that of an Incorporated Organized Territory, however, that status has yet to be […]
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Organic Act of Guam of 1950
Organic Act of Guam of 1950 And Related Federal Laws Affecting the Governmental Structure of Guam Guam, is an unincorporated United States territory that has not yet adopted a constitution. It was designated an unincorporated U.S. Territory by the “Guam Organic Act of 1950.” The act serves as the governing document for Guam. It was approved […]
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Constitution of American Samoa
Whereas the Congress of the United States, in its Act of February 20, 1929, provided that until the Congress shall provide for the Government of the islands of American Samoa, all civil, judicial, and military powers shall be vested in such person or persons and exercised in such manner as the President of the United […]
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Draft Constitution for Virginia – June, 1776
FAIR COPY A Bill for new-modelling the form of Government and for establishing the Fundamental principles thereof in future. Whereas George Guelf king of Great Britain and Ireland and Elector of Hanover, heretofore entrusted with the exercise of the kingly office in this government hath endeavored to pervert the same into a detestable and insupportable tyranny; […]
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Wyoming State Constitution, 1890, as Amended
Preamble We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political and religious liberties, and desiring to secure them to ourselves and perpetuate them to our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution. Article 1 – Declaration of Rights Section 1 – Power Inherent in the People All power is […]
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Wisconsin State Constitution, As Amended 2014
Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, form a more perfect government, insure domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare, do establish this constitution. Article I – Declaration of Rights Section 1 – Equality; Inherent Rights All people are born equally free and […]
Read MorePresidential Addresses, Messages & Executive Orders
74 Visit Presidential Addresses, Messages & Executive Orders
Gettysburg Address
This short speech was given by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863 at the Dedication of the National Military Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,
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Abraham Lincoln Address to 1858 Illinois State Republican Convention
"A house divided against itself cannot stand."
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Proclamation of Unlimited National Emergency
Proclaiming That an Unlimited National Emergency Confronts This Country
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Executive Order 9102 Establishing the War Relocation Authority
By President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 18, 1942 By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the United States, as President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, and in order to provide for the removal from designated areas of persons whose […]
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Truman Doctrine
President Harry S. Truman’s Address before a Joint Session of Congress, March 12, 1947 Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Congress of the United States: The gravity of the situation which confronts the world today necessitates my appearance before a joint session of the Congress. The foreign policy and the national security of this […]
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Barack Obama Second Inaugural Address
January 21, 2013 Vice President Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: Each time we gather to inaugurate a President we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution. We affirm the promise of our democracy. We recall that what binds this nation together is not […]
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A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North-America on July 6, 1775
With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare, that, exerting the utmost energy of those powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us, the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverence, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die freemen rather than to live slaves.
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The Stamp Act
March 22, 1765 An act for granting and applying certain stamp duties, and other duties, in the British colonies and plantations in America, towards further defraying the expences of defending, protecting, and securing the same; and for amending such parts of the several acts of parliament relating to the trade and revenues of the said […]
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The Mecklenburg Resolves
The Mecklenburg Resolves were created by the Mecklenburg County Committee of Safety on or after May 20, 1775, and were adopted by that same committee on May 31, 1775. This was just weeks after what is now considered the first battles in the American War for Independence at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts.
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Executive Order 9102 Establishing the War Relocation Authority
By President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 18, 1942 By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the United States, as President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, and in order to provide for the removal from designated areas of persons whose […]
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The Versailles Treaty – Signatures and Protocol – June 28, 1919
THE PRESENT TREATY, of which the French and English texts are both authentic, shall be ratified. The deposit of ratifications shall be made at Paris as soon as possible. Powers of which the seat of the Government is outside Europe will be entitled merely to inform the Government of the French Republic through their diplomatic representative at […]
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A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North-America on July 6, 1775
With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare, that, exerting the utmost energy of those powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us, the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverence, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die freemen rather than to live slaves.
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Monroe Doctrine
By the end of the 19th century, the Monroe Doctrine was seen as a defining moment in the foreign policy of the United States and is one of its longest-standing tenets.
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The Mecklenburg Resolves
The Mecklenburg Resolves were created by the Mecklenburg County Committee of Safety on or after May 20, 1775, and were adopted by that same committee on May 31, 1775. This was just weeks after what is now considered the first battles in the American War for Independence at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts.
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Sherman Antitrust Act
The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 is a United States antitrust law passed by Congress under the presidency of Benjamin Harrison, which regulates competition among enterprises.
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The Warsaw Security Pact
Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance Between the People’s Republic of Albania, the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, the Hungarian People’s Republic, the German Democratic Republic, the Polish People’s Republic, the Rumanian People’s Republic, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Czechoslovak Republic, May 14, 1955 The Contracting Parties, reaffirming their desire for the […]
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