 |
late 18c:
Phillis Wheatley, African-American poet, to the students of the
University of Cambridge in New England (Harvard) |
|
|
1780s:
“Is It Not Enough that We Are Torn From Our Country and
Friends" - Olaudah Equiano Describes the Horrors of the Middle Passage |
|
|
1783:
Jefferson Suggests Transcontinental Expedition to George Rogers
Clark |
|
|
1784:
"An act to preserve the freedom and independence of this State, and
for other purposes
therein mentioned" - New York, passed May 12th -
broadside |
|
|
1784:
Reason: The Only Oracle Of Man - Ethan Allen
|
|
|
1784:
Resolutions Concerning Foreign Commerce - Articles of Confederation
Congress (4/30) |
|
|
1784:
Samuel Adams letter to Noah Webster (4/30) |
|
|
1785:
Disposing of Lands in the Western Territories - Articles of
Confederation Congress |
|
|
1785:
Letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson describing
the cordial greeting he received from King George III as the first
American minister to Great Britain (6/3) |
|
|
1785:
"Memorial and Remonstrance" - James Madison |
|
|
1785:
Treaty
with the Cherokee |
|
|
1785:
Short Observations on Slavery by Anthony Benezet |
|
|
1785-1812:
Diary of Martha Ballard |
|
|
1786:
Annapolis
Convention |
|
|
1786-1836:
The
Barbary Treaties |
|
|
1786:
The Grand Committee on the Subject of the Western Territory |
|
|
1786:
Instructions to Superintendents of Indian Affairs - Articles of
Confederation Congress (8/7) |
|
|
1786:
The Instructor, or American Young Man's Best Companion Containing
Spelling, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetick - George Fisher |
|
|
1786:
A Petition by Rachel Lovell Wells - the text of the petition of a
Bordentown sculptor and
widow to the Continental Congress for relief
after the Revolutionary War (5/18) |
|
|
1786:
A Plan for the General Arrangement of the Militia of the United
States: Introduction - Henry Knox |
|
|
1786:
Poems of
Phyllis Wheatley |
|
|
1786:
Thomas Jefferson Letter to Jean Nicolas Demeunier (6/26) |
|
|
1786:
Travels in North America -
Marquis de Chastellux |
|
|
1786:
Virginia Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom |
|
|
1787:
The Address and reasons of dissent of the minority of the convention,
of the state of Pennsylvania, to their constituents (12/12) |
|
|
1787:
The Anti-Federalist Papers |
|
|
1787:
The Boston
Plan |
|
|
1787:
"The Contrast" -- A Comedy in Five Acts written by a Citizen of the
United States, Royall Tyler |
|
|
1787:
"Dangers of a
Salaried Bureaucracy" - Benjamin Franklin |
|
|
1787:
"Disapproving
and Accepting the Constitution" - Benjamin Franklin
|
|
|
1787:
Drafts of the Constitution of the United States (8/6) |
|
|
1787:
Elbridge Gerry's Reasons for Not Signing the Federal
Constitution |
|
|
1787:
The Federalist
Papers (in its entirety) |
|
|
1787:
Federalist Papers #10 - James Madison |
|
|
1787:
Federalist Papers #21-
Hamilton on the weaknesses of the
Articles of Confederation |
|
|
1787:
"Am I Not
a Man and a Brother?" - Quaker-created seal |
|
|
1787: Letter from Henry Knox to George Washington |
|
|
1787:
Letter from James Madison to General Washington |
|
|
1787:
Letter from Thomas Jefferson to James Madison |
|
|
1787:
Letters from the Federal Farmer - Richard Henry Lee |
|
|
1787:
Madison's Notes on the Debates at the Federal Convention |
|
|
1787:
New Jersey
and Virginia Plans |
|
|
1787:
Northwest
Ordinance |
|
|
1787:
Notes of
Alexander Hamilton in the Federal Convention of 1787 |
|
|
1787:
On the Constitution - Ben Franklin |
|
|
1787:
Ordinance for Settling Accounts Between the U. S. and Individual
States - U. S. Congress (5/7) |
|
|
1787:
Plan of
Charles Pinckney (SC) Presented to the Federal Convention |
|
|
1787:
Report of the Committee of Style (9/12) |
|
|
1787:
Speech at the Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention, December 3 (Slavery
and representation, importation of slaves) - James Wilson |
|
|
1787:
State House Yard Speech on the Constitution - James Wilson (10/6) |
|
|
1787:
Thomas Jefferson's drawing of a macaroni machine and
instructions for making pasta |
|
|
1787:
Thoughts on Female Education -
Benjamin Rush |
|
|
1787:
The U. S.
Constitution and Amendments |
|
|
1787:
The Virginia Plan (5/29) |
|
|
1787-88:
The Antifederalist Papers |
|
|
1787-1820:
"The Signing of the Declaration of Independence" - painting by John
Trumbull |
|
|
1787-88:
Mrs. Mary Dewees' Journal from Philadelphia to Kentucky |
|
|
1788:
Address to the People of the State of New York - John
Jay |
|
|
1788:
Against the Federal Constitution - Patrick Henry (6/5) |
|
|
1788:
Alexander Hamilton on the Adoption of the Constitution |
|
|
1788:
“All Men Are Born Free and Equal” - Massachusetts
Yeomen Oppose the “Aristocratickal”
Constitution (Jan.) |
|
|
1788:
"Answering
Patrick Henry" - Francis Corbin's speech given at the Virginia
Convention considering the ratification of the proposed U.S.
Constitution (7/7) |
|
|
1788:
Extract from an Address to the people of the state of New-York,
on the subject of the federal Constitution |
|
|
1788:
"Federal Superstructure" -
Anonymous political cartoon in the Massachusetts Centinel
(1/30) |
|
|
1788:
"An ode for the 4th of July 1788" - [Philadelphia] Printed by M. Carey |
|
|
1788:
Order of Procession In Honor of the Establishment of the Constitution
of the United States |
|
|
1788:
Patrick Henry's Speeches |
|
|
1788:
Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New York |
|
|
1788:
Slave Trade and the Middle Passage - Alexander
Falconbridge |
|
|
1788:
Treaty with the Cherokee (11/28) |
|
|
1789:
"An
act to establish the seat of government of the United States" -
broadside |
|
|
1789:
Address of the Senate to George Washington (5/18) |
|
|
1789:
President Washington's First Inaugural Speech |
|
|
1789:
The Bill of
Rights |
|
|
1789:
First Twelve
Articles of Amendment (6/8) |
|
|
1789:
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or
Gustavus
Vassa the African |
|
|
1789:
Judiciary
Act of 1789 |
|
|
1789:
"Procession. Boston. Oct. 19, 1789. As this town is shortly to be
honoured with a visit from the
President of the United States: in
order that we may pay our respects to him, in a manner
whereby every
inhabitant may see so
illustrious and amiable a character ... [Boston, 1789]" -
broadside |
|
|
1789:
Proposed Constitutional Amendments on Freedom of
Religion |
|
|
1789:
Thanksgiving Proclamation - George Washington |
|
|
1789:
Treaty
with the Six Nations |
|
|
1789:
Washington's First Inaugural Address |
|
|
1789:
Washington Letter to John Langdon. Mount Vernon (4/14) |
|
|
1790s:
Excerpts from the Journal of William Maclay |
|
|
1790:
Actual
Page from The Massachusetts Sentinel (4/24/1790) |
|
|
1790:
Acts of the Fifteenth General Assembly of New Jersey - this document
refers to voters as
both "he" and "she" |
|
|
1790:
American State Papers Military Affairs No. 2 - Organization of the
Militia Communicated to the Senate (1/21) - a quarter of the way
down the page |
|
|
1790:
Census Data |
|
|
1790:
"Congress
of the United States. In Senate, July the12 th, 1790. The committee
appointed
July the 2d, 1790, reported as follows" -
[Philadelphia] Printed by John Fenno - broadside |
|
|
1790:
First State Annual
Message of George Washington |
|
|
1790:
“I Wove To-day” - Elizabeth Fuller Grows Up in Rural
Massachusetts |
|
|
1790:
Letter from George Washington to the Senate on Cherokee Affairs (8/11) |
|
|
1790:
Letter to the Hebrew Congregation at Newport, RI - George Washington |
|
|
1790:
"On the Equality of the Sexes" - Judith Sargent Murray |
|
|
1790:
Opinion on the Constitutionality of the Residency Bill - Thomas
Jefferson |
|
|
1790:
Report on a National Bank - Alexander Hamilton |
|
|
1790:
Report on Public Credit - Alexander Hamilton (1/15) |
|
|
1790:
Second Annual Message of George Washington |
|
|
1790:
[William Maclay], "For the Independent Gazetteer" |
|
|
1790-91:
“An Iron Furnace of Affliction” - Abigail Abbot Bailey
Endures the Abuse of her Husband,
New Hampshire |
|
|
1790-1791:
"Of the Natural Rights of Individuals" - James Wilson |
|
|
1790-1791:
"Of
the Study of Law in the United States" - James Wilson |
|
|
1790-1791:
"On the General Principle of Law and Obligation" - James Wilson |
|
|
1791:
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (full text) |
|
|
1791:
Benjamin Banneker to Thomas Jefferson, "We are all of
the Same Family"
|
|
|
1791:
Bill of Rights |
|
|
1791:
Hamilton's Opinion as to the Constitutionality of the Bank of
the United States |
|
|
1791:
An Introductory Lecture To a Course of Law Lectures -
James Wilson |
|
|
1791:
"From the Daily advertiser. Thoughts on coinage, and the establishment
of a mint, submitted to
the consideration of those statesmen only, who
dare to quit the beaten path" - leaflet |
|
|
1791:
Jefferson Argues against the Constitutionality of a National Bank |
|
|
1791:
Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Banneker
expressing his belief that blacks possess
talents equal to those of
"other colours of men" (9/30) |
|
|
1791:
Report on Manufactures - Alexander Hamilton (12/5) |
|
|
1791:
Third Annual Message of George Washington |
|
|
1792:
Fourth Annual Message of George Washington |
|
|
1792:
Letter from
Alexander Hamilton to George Washington |
|
|
1792:
Militia Acts |
|
|
1792:
The Rights
of Man - Thomas Paine |
|
|
1792-93:
“Much Blood May be Shed Ere Liberty be Firmly
Established” - Benjamin Franklin Bache
Defends the French Revolution |
|
|
1793:
Chisolm
v. Georgia |
|
|
1793:
Coinage
Act |
|
|
1793:
Fifth Annual Message of George Washington |
|
|
1793:
Fugitive
Slave Law of 1793 |
|
|
1793:
Letter from George Hammond to Thomas Jefferson -
re: Jay Treaty |
|
|
1793: Letter of Thomas Jefferson to George Hammond (1) -
re: Jay Treaty |
|
|
1793:
Opinion on Renouncing Treaties with France (4/28) |
|
|
1793:
Proclamation of Neutrality |
|
|
1793:
Second Inaugural
Address - George Washington |
|
|
1794:
An Act to Prohibit the Carrying on the Slave Trade from
the United States to any Foreign Place
or Country (3/22) |
|
|
1794:
Cases adjudged in the Supreme Court of New-Jersey;
relative to the manumission of Negroes
and others holden in bondage. |
|
|
1794:
"A Display of the
United States" - line engraving by Amos Doolittle |
|
|
1794:
Extract from an Oration on Eloquence, Pronounced at Harvard
University on Commencement Day |
|
|
1794:
Jay
Treaty (and ancillary documents) |
|
|
1794:
Letter from Thomas Jefferson to James Madison on the
Whiskey Rebellion |
|
|
1794:
Patent for the Cotton Gin |
|
|
1794:
Sixth Annual Message of George Washington |
|
|
1794:
Thomas Jefferson's design for a plow |
|
|
1794:
Treaty with the Six Nations |
|
|
1794:
The Whiskey Rebellion - Proclamation by President Washington |
|
|
1795:
11th.
Amendment to the U. S. Constitution |
|
|
1795:
Age of Reason - Thomas Paine
(Part I)
(Part II) |
|
|
1795:
Farmer's Almanack Pages |
|
|
1795:
Greenville Treaty with Several Indian Tribes |
|
|
1795:
"Horatius" to the People of the United States |
|
|
1795:
Plan of the City of Washington |
|
|
1795:
Seventh Annual Message of George Washington |
|
|
1798:
"The
Sorrows of Yamba or The Negro Woman's Lamentation" - poem by Hannah
More (attributed) |
|
|
1795:
Treaty of
Greenville (8/3) |
|
|
1795:
Treaty of Tripoli |
|
|
1796:
Eighth Annual Message of George Washington |
|
|
1796:
"To the Citizens of the Southern States" - Southern Planter
(broadside) |
|
|
1797:
First Annual Message of John Adams |
|
|
1797:
Inaugural Address of
John Adams |
|
|
1797:
Letters Concerning The Age of Reason - Thomas Paine |
|
|
1797:
"Refusing
the Paris Monster" - political cartoon |
|
|
1797:
Speech
on the XYZ Affair - President John Adams |
|
|
1797:
"To Be Sold" - newspaper advertisement for a slave woman |
|
|
1797:
White Slaveowners Fear that the Haitian Revolution Has
Arrived in Charleston, SC |
|
|
1798:
11th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution |
|
|
1798:
Alien
Act |
|
|
1798:
Alien Enemies Act |
|
|
1798:
"Brief
account of the Society for propagating the gospel among the Indians
and others in
North-America" - pamphlet |
|
|
1798:
Letter to John Adams from George Washington |
|
|
1798:
Letter from
Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor |
|
|
1798:
Mr. Gordon's Speech on the Alien Bill |
|
|
1798:
Second Annual Message of John Adams |
|
|
1798:
Sedition Act |
|
|
1798:
“The Sentiments of a Labourer” - William Manning
Inquires in the Key of Liberty |
|
|
1798:
Speech to British Government Concerning Indian Land Claims, Niagara
- Joseph Brant (3/25) |
|
|
1798:
Speech to Assembled Iroquois Chiefs - Wabanip (4/30) |
|
|
1798:
Virginia
Resolution |
|
|
1798:
Washington's
Farewell Address |
|
|
1799:
Kentucky Resolution |
|
|
1799:
Law Will and Testament of George Washington |
|
|
1799:
"A New Display of
the United States" - engraving by Amos Doolittle |
|
|
1799:
The
Petition of the People of Colour, Freemen within the City, and Suburbs
of Philadelphia |
|
|
1799:
Third Annual Message of John Adams |
|
|
1799:
William Manning, “A Laborer,” Explains Shays Rebellion
in Massachusetts - “In as Plain a Manner
as I Am Capable” |
|
|
1800:
The Beginnings of the City of Washington, DC - Abigail Adams |
|
|
1800:
John Adams'
Letter to Abigail Adams - prayer for the new executive mansion |
|
|
1800:
Various Documents Pertaining the the Convention of France - Hunter
Miller's Notes |
|
|
1801:
Message to the Senate - John Adams |
|
|
1865:
A Colored Man's Reminiscences of James Madison -
1865 memoir of Paul Jennings, a former
slave |
