Important Documents

George Washington--First Inaugural Address, 1789

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=11&
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

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=13&page=transcript
The first ten amendments to the Constitution at the National Archives.

George Washington--Farewell Address, 1796

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=15&page=transcript
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

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=18&page=tr
National Archives.

Missouri Compromise, 1820

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=22&page=tr
National Archives.

President Andrew Jackson--Indian Removal

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=25&page=tr
National Archives.

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=28&page=tr
National Archives.

Homestead Act, 1862

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=31&page=tr
National Archives.

Emancipation Proclamation, 1863

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=34&page=tr
National Archives.

Gettysburg Address, 1863

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=36&page=tr
National Archives.

13th Amendment, 1865

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=40
National Archives. Amendment abolishing slavery.

Dawes Act, 1887

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=50&page=tr
National Archives. Act dealing with the allocation of Native American land.

Pleesy vs. Ferguson, 1896

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=52&page=tr
National Archives. Establishing "separate but equal."

Wodrow Wilson--Fourteen Points, 1918

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=62&page=tr
National Archives.

Social Security Act, 1935

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=68&page=tr
National Archives.

Franklin Roosevelt--War Declaration, 1941

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=73&page=tr
National Archives.

United Nations Charter, 1945

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=79&page=tr
National Archives.

Truman Doctrine, 1947

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=81&page=tr
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

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=87&page=tr
National Archives.

John F. Kennedy--Inaugural Address, 1961

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=91&page=tr
National Archives

Civil Rights Act, 1964

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=97&page=tr
National Archives.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, 1964

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=98&page=tr
National Archives.

Voting Rights Act, 1965

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=100&page=t
National Archives.

The Declaration of Independence, 1776

Articles of Confederation, 1777

Northwest Ordinance, 1787

The Constitution, 1787