Historical Documents

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.

Charter or first "Constitution" adopted by the 13 states following the American Revolution.

The first ten Amendments to the Constitution.

Centuries of Citizenship: A Constitutional Timeline is an online experience highlighting some of the key dates and events that mark more than 200 years of our constitutional history. These timeline entries, taken as a whole, tell the evolving story of the U.S. Constitution and the continuing role that it plays in our lives.

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.

Learn about the delegates to the Constitution Convention of 1787.

English liberty charter decreed by King John.

Agreement drafted by the settlers of the first New England colony.

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

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

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

Spanish language translation of the U.S. Constitution

Ten essential facts about the US Constitution

The first public printing of the Constitution was printed on September 19, 1787.

Read the full text of the U.S. Constitution.

Photo of the original U.S. Constitution

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

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

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

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.

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