Important Documents

The Declaration of Independence, 1776 National Archives.

Articles of Confederation, 1777 National Archives.

Northwest Ordinance, 1787 National Archives.

The Constitution, 1787 National Archives.

George Washington--First Inaugural Address, 1789 National Archives. Note the tempered statements issued throughout, indicative of Washington's concern about his being the first president and, thus, providing an example of how future presidents would interpret and wield the power of the office.

The Bill of Rights, 1791 The first ten amendments to the Constitution at the National Archives.

George Washington--Farewell Address, 1796 National Archives. Note especially Washington's account of the strengths of the new American nation and his insistence that "virtue" would provide the foundation for future national development.

Louisiana Purchase Treaty, 1803 National Archives.

Missouri Compromise, 1820 National Archives.

President Andrew Jackson--Indian Removal National Archives.

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854 National Archives.

Homestead Act, 1862 National Archives.

Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 National Archives.

Gettysburg Address, 1863 National Archives.

13th Amendment, 1865 National Archives. Amendment abolishing slavery.

Dawes Act, 1887 National Archives. Act dealing with the allocation of Native American land.

Pleesy vs. Ferguson, 1896 National Archives. Establishing "separate but equal."

Wodrow Wilson--Fourteen Points, 1918 National Archives.

Social Security Act, 1935 National Archives.

Franklin Roosevelt--War Declaration, 1941 National Archives.

United Nations Charter, 1945 National Archives.

Truman Doctrine, 1947 National Archives. States the willingness of the United States to help any nation who sought help to fight communism.

Brown vs. Board of Education, 1954 National Archives.

John F. Kennedy--Inaugural Address, 1961 National Archives

Civil Rights Act, 1964 National Archives.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, 1964 National Archives.

Voting Rights Act, 1965 National Archives.