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American Historical DocumentsThis page includes links to all of the American historical documents that are mentioned anywhere in this website. Revolutionary War documents, Revolutionary War letters, proclamations, newspaper articles, British Acts, etc. Just click on the link to read the full text of each document. In some cases there is a picture of the document as well. Some of these documents are British documents that affected the American Revolution and America's early history as well.American Historical Documents - 1744Rules of Civility by George Washington - 1744 A list of proverbs and maxims written down by George Washington as a boy of 16.American Historical Documents - 1765Quartering Act of 1765 - May 15, 1765 An act that angered Americans, which required them to house and feed British troops.American Historical Documents - 1768Circular Letter from Massachusetts House of Representatives - February 11, 1768 This letter was drafted by Samuel Adams and was one of the first public challenges of King George III and the British Parliament.Resolutions of the Boston Town Meeting - September 13, 1768 This resolution was passed by the citizens of Boston in response to British troops being stationed in their city. American Historical Documents - 1769Mysteries of Government - February 27, 1769 An article published by Samuel Adams discussing the rights of British citizens.American Historical Documents - 1772The Rights of the Colonists - November 20, 1772 A document by Samuel Adams stating the rights of the colonists as British citizens.American Historical Documents - 1774Boston Port Act - March 31, 1774 This act of the British Parliament sealed off Boston Harbor with a fleet of warships in response to the Boston Tea Party.William Hooper letter to James Iredell - April 26, 1774 In this letter, future Declaration of Independence signer William Hooper of North Carolina makes the first prediction of American independence, earning him the title "Prophet of Independence." Circular Letter of the Boston Committee of Correspondence - May 13, 1774 This letter is a request to all the other colonies to join in a boycott of all British goods in response to the Boston Port Act that closed Boston harbor. Quartering Act of 1774 - June 2, 1774 The second quartering act which required American's to house and feed British soldiers. A Summary View of the Rights of British America by Thomas Jefferson - July 1774 Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress - October 14, 1774 First Continental Congress' response to England's treatment, their list of grievances and plans for the future. Letter to the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec - October 26, 1774 Letter from Congress asking Quebec to join in the rebellion against England. American Historical Documents - 1775Olive Branch Petition - June 5, 1775John Adams letter to James Warren - July 24, 1775 This is the letter that was captured and published by the British, revealing America's continued war preparations in spite of their plea for peace in the Olive Branch Petition. John Adams letter to Abigail Adams - July 24, 1775 This letter was also captured by the British. Address to the Assembly of Jamaica - July 25, 1775 In this address, the Congress seeks to explain its position at the beginning of the Revolutionary War to the inhabitants of Jamaica. King George III's Rebellion Proclamation - August 23, 1775 Abigail Adams letter to John Adams - November 12, 1775 Abigail reveals American anger toward the British government after the king refused to receive the Olive Branch Petition. Letter from the Continental Congress to Oswald Eve - November 21, 1775 Letter from Congress asking Oswald Eve to assist Paul Revere in establishing a gun powder mill in Massachusetts. Congress' response to King George's rejection of the Olive Branch Petition - December 6, 1775 Rachel Revere letter to Paul Revere - 1775 Letter from Rachel Revere to her husband that was taken by the traitor Dr. Benjamin Church and given to British General Gage. Paul Revere deposition - 1775 Paul Revere's personal account of his midnight ride in a deposition written for the Massachusetts Provincial Congress. American Historical Documents - 1776Common Sense by Thomas Paine - January 10, 1776Instructions for Georgia Delegates to the Continental Congress - April 5, 1776 This is the Georgia Council of Safety's instructions to its Delegates to Congress shortly before the Declaration of Independence. Halifax Resolves - April 12, 1776 Passed by North Carolina, the Resolves were the first official instructions from any colony authorizing its delegates to Congress to vote for independence from Great Britain. Preamble and Resolution of the Virginia Convention - May 15, 1776 This is the resolution that ordered the Virginia delegates to the Continental Congress to propose a resolution that the united colonies ought to be "free and independent States, absolved from all allegiance to, or dependence upon, the Crown or Parliament of Great Britain." Joseph Hewes letter to James Iredell - May 17, 1776 - Letter discussing efforts of the Congress to equip the Continental Army. Lee Resolution - June 7, 1776 This is the resolution that proposed that the united colonies declare themselves free and independent states from Great Britain. Virginia Declaration of Rights by George Mason and Thomas Ludwell Lee - June 12, 1776 Joseph Hewes letter to James Iredell - June 28, 1776 - Letter discussing Hewes' confidence in the upcoming vote for independence. Thomas Jefferson's draft Constitution for the State of Virginia - June 1776 Original unedited draft of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson - June 1776 The only existing fragment of Thomas Jefferson's original draft of the Declaration of Independence - June 1776 Original Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence - June 1776 This is the Declaration text after it had been edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. This is the version the Committee of Five submitted to Congress. The Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1776 This is the final approved version by Congress. List of current copy holders of existing, original Dunlap Broadsides of the Declaration of Independence Chronological list of locations the Declaration of Independence has been stored John Hancock letter to George Washington - July 6, 1776 This letter was sent by John Hancock to General Washington with a copy of the new Declaration of Independence and instructions to read it to his troops. American Independence - August 1, 1776 - Speech delivered by Samuel Adams at the State House in Philadelphia. American Historical Documents - 1781Articles of Confederation - March 1, 1781 The Articles of Confederation were the first official "constitution" governing the thirteen United States.Notes on the State of Virginia - 1781-1782 Thomas Jefferson's only published work. American Historican Documents - 1785Memorial Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments - James Madison, June 20, 1785 In this document, Madison speaks out against the practice of using religious tests for those who hold public office.American Historical Documents - 1787The Virginia Plan - May 29, 1787 The Virginia Delegation proposed this plan to the Constitutional Convention, which laid out the basic outline for the new Constitution.American Historical Documents - 1788George Washington letter to the Marquis de Lafayette - April 28, 1788 This letter discusses the nation's debate over whether or not to accept the new Constitution.James Madison letter to Thomas Jefferson - October 17, 1788 A letter in cipher that discusses the pros and cons of adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution. American Historical Documents - 1789George Washington's First Inaugural Address - April 30, 1789James Madison speech to Congress - June 8, 1789 In this speech, James Madison proposes twenty Amendments to the Constitution, which later became the Bill of Rights. Twelve Amendments proposed by Congress - September 25, 1789 These are the original Amendments to the Constitution proposed by Congress. George Washington Thanksgiving Proclamation - October 3, 1789 James Madison letter to George Washington - December 5, 1789 Madison's letter reveals the struggle between different factions to accept or reject the new Constitution. American Historical Documents - 1791Bill of Rights - December 15, 1791 The first ten Amendments to the US Constitution.American Historical Documents - 1792Property by James Madison - March 29, 1792 A short essay about the government's responsibility to protect personal property.American Historical Documents - 1793Proclamation of Neutrality by George Washington - April 22, 1793American Historical Documents - 1795Proclamation of Fasting and Prayer by Samuel Adams - February 28, 1795American Historical Documents - 1796George Washington's Farewell Address - September 19, 1796American Historical Documents - 1798Virginia Resolution of 1798 - December 24, 1798 A document written by James Madison and adopted by General Assembly of Virginia to refute the Alien and Sedition Acts.Paul Revere letter to Jeremy Belknap - 1798 The most thorough personal account of Paul Revere's midnight ride in a letter to Jeremy Belknap. American Historical Documents - 1801Thomas Jefferson First Inaugural Address - March 1, 1801American Historical Documents - 1809First Inaugural Address of James Madison - March 4, 1809American Historical Documents - 1813Second Inaugural Address of James Madison - March 4, 1813American Historical Documents - 1814Treaty of Ghent - December 24, 1814 The signing of this document ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain.American Historical Documents - 1817Detached Memoranda - 1817 Allegedly written by James Madison refuting the use of public money for religious purposes.American Historical Documents - 1821Thomas Jefferson's personal account of writing the Declaration of Independence - January 6, 1821Autobiography of Thomas Jefferson - January 6, 1821 American Historical Documents - 1836An Eulogy on the Life and Character of James Madison - September 27, 1836 by John Quincy Adams upon the death of President Madison.Current version of the Constitution of the United States of America American Historical Documents- The Following Documents are important British Documents that influenced the creation of the United States and its ideals:Magna Carta - 1215 AD First British document requiring the monarch to obey written laws. English Habeas Corpus Act of 1679 English Bill of Rights - 1689 Return to Top of American Historical Documents Founding Fathers page Main Declaration of Independence page Revolutionary War and Beyond Home |
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