"Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government."
~Thomas Jefferson, 1789
In studying the history of the United States, it is important to go back to primary source material. Here are some of the key documents and speeches that all well-informed citizens of the United States would want to be familiar with.
- Magna Carta 1215
- Columbus Letter Announcing His Discovery 1493
- The Mayflower Compact 1620
- Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges 1701
- Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death Patrick Henry, 1775
- The Declaration of Independence 1776
- Articles of Confederation 1777
- Constitution of the United States ratified 1788
- Bill of Rights and the Later Amendments
- Petition from the Pa. Society for the Abolition of Slavery 1790
- To those who keep slaves, and approve the practice Richard Allen 1794
- Washington's Farewell Address 1796
- The Star Spangled Banner 1814
- The Monroe Doctrine 1823
- Choctaw Chief George W. Harkins to the American People 1832
- Daniel Webster's "Seventh of March" Speech
- Lincoln's House Divided Speech 1858
- Lincoln's First Inaugural Address 1861
- The Emancipation Proclamation 1863
- Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address 1865
- The Gettysburg Address 1863
- The Pledge of Allegiance 1892
- The American's Creed 1918
- FDR's Infamy Speech
- "Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You" John F. Kennedy, 1961
- "Ich bin ein Berliner"John F. Kennedy, 1963
- "Tear Down This Wall" Ronald Reagan, 1987
This public-domain content provided by the Independence Hall Association, a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1942. Publishing electronically as ushistory.org. On the Internet since July 4, 1995.
