The collection
136 documents, complete texts.
Foundational Documents (4)
The Declaration of IndependenceAdopted July 4, 1776
Articles of Confederation and Perpetual UnionAdopted by Congress November 15, 1777; in force March 1, 1781
The Constitution of the United States (1787)Signed September 17, 1787; ratified June 21, 1788
The Bill of Rights (Amendments I–X)Proposed by Congress September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791
Federalist (85)
All 85 essays, Publius’s complete series.
Anti-Federalist (44)
Brutus, the Federal Farmer, and Cato complete, along with George Mason, Luther Martin, and the Pennsylvania minority. Browse the full collection →
Other Founding-Era Writings (3)
An Address to the Inhabitants of the British Settlements, on the Slavery of the Negroes in AmericaBenjamin RushPhiladelphia: printed by John Dunlap, 1773; second edition, Philadelphia, 1773
Petition of a Great Number of Blacks, Freemen of This Commonwealth, to the Massachusetts General CourtA great number of Blacks, freemen of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; signed by Prince HallPetition to the Massachusetts General Court, February 27, 1788
Memorial of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery to the Senate and House of RepresentativesThe Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery; signed by Benjamin Franklin as President of the SocietyAgreed and signed at Philadelphia, February 3, 1790; transmitted to Vice President John Adams, February 9, 1790; presented to the House of Representatives February 12 and to the Senate February 15, 1790