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Primary and Secondary Resources

Articles of Confederation

Framed in 1777, adopted in 1781
Charter or first "Constitution" adopted by the 13 states following the American Revolution.

Bill of Rights

Adopted in 1791
The first ten Amendments to the Constitution.

Declaration of Independence

Adopted July 4, 1776

Emancipation Proclamation, Leland-Boker Edition, 1864

Enacted in 1862, this edition of the Emancipation Proclamation was auctioned to raise money for Union troops during the Civil War. It is signed by Pres. Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward.

Founding Fathers

Learn about the delegates to the Constitution Convention of 1787.

Magna Carta

1215 A.D.
English liberty charter decreed by King John.

Mayflower Compact

November 11, 1620
Agreement drafted by the settlers of the first New England colony.

Perspectives on the Constitution: A Republic, If You Can Keep It

by Richard R. Beeman Professor of History and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences University of Pennsylvania

Perspectives on the Constitution: Constitutions Around the World

by Kim Lane Scheppele Professor of Law, Political Science and Sociology, University of Pennsylvania

Perspectives on the Constitution: Understanding Our Constitution

by Akhil Reed Amar, Professor of Law Yale University Law School and Douglas W. Kmiec, Dean, Catholic University Law School

The Constitution of the United States (HTML—En Espanol)

Spanish Language translation of the US Constitution

The Constitution of the United States (HTML)

Approved by delegates in 1787, ratified in 1788.

The Constitution of the United States (Original Image)

Photo of the original US Constituion

The Constitution of the United States (PDF—Other Languages)

PDF copies of the US Constitution translated into Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Simplified Chinese.

The Constitution of the United States (PDF)

The Constitution of the United States as a printable PDF file.

The Constitution of the United States: Fast Facts

Ten essential facts about the US Constitution

The Federalist Papers

October 1787 - August 1788
A series of newspaper articles drafted by Alexander Hamilton along with collaborators John Jay and James Madison, urging ratification of the new Constitution.

The Reconstruction Amendments

Ratified in 1865 (13th Amendment), 1868 (14th Amendment), 1870 (15th Amendment). Also known as the Civil War Amendments. Amendments abolished slavery and guaranteed equal protection of the laws and the right to vote.

The Virginia Declaration of Rights

Adopted June 12, 1776
Drafted by George Mason, this declaration of rights later became a model for other state constitutions and the Bill of Rights.

Thirteenth Amendment, Congressional Copy

This handwritten, Congressional Copy of the amendment that banned slavery is signed by President Lincoln, Vice-President Hamlin and over 150 members of Congress. This full color, two sided, 11"x17" mini-poster and discussion guide encourages students to examine this primary source and its impact on American society.

Word Puzzle: Brown v. Board of Education

Word Puzzle: Founding Fathers

Word Puzzle: Ratifying States

Word Puzzle: U.S. Constitution

Word Puzzle: Voting Rights