Milestone Documents

Richard Henry Lee's Resolution calling for Independence (1776)

Declaration of Independence (1776)

The Articles of Confederation (1777)

Treaty of Alliance with France (1778)

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Virginia Plan (1787)

Tracing the broad outlines of what would become the US Constitution

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Laws on addmitting new states under the articles of confederation

Constitution of the United States (1787)

The Federalist Papers (1787-8)

A critical study of the U.S. Constitution from before it was adopted by the states
see especially no. 10 and no. 51

See also our collection of Anti-Federalist Writings and Additional Federalist Writings.

President George Washington's First Inaugural Speech (1789)

Federal Judiciary Act (1789)

Establishment of the Supreme Court System

Bill of Rights (1791)

President George Washington's Farewell Address (1796)

Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

Jefferson's Secret Message to Congress Regarding the Lewis & Clark Expedition (1803)

Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803)

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Supreme Court ruling that established the role of the court overseeing the executive and legislative branches

Treaty of Ghent (1814)

Treaty ending the War of 1812 with Great Britain

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Supreme Court ruling that addressed the issue of Federal power and commerce.