A primary source library of the foundational documents of the United States, presented for direct reading, study, and comparison.
The Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact served as the first self-governing document in New England, drafted to ensure order and unity among the settlers. It established a "Civil Body Politic" that laid the foundational groundwork for democratic governance in the American colonies.
Declaration of Independence
Adopted in 1776, declaring the American colonies independent from British rule.
Constitution
Ratified in 1788, the Constitution establishes the framework of the United States government.
The Amendments
The Constitution has been amended twenty-seven times since its ratification. These amendments clarify rights, adjust governmental structure, and respond to historical developments.