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Founding Documents

The foundational texts of the American republic — declarations, charters, and constitutions that established the government and its principles.

Articles of Confederation
America's first constitution and the document that proved insufficient
Common Sense
Thomas Paine's 1776 pamphlet that made independence a popular cause
Declaration of Independence
The 1776 founding document asserting American independence and natural rights
Eighth Amendment
The ban on cruel and unusual punishment
Fifth Amendment
Due process, self-incrimination, and the rights of the accused
First Amendment
The constitutional guarantee of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition
Fourth Amendment
The guarantee against unreasonable searches and seizures
Mayflower Compact
The 1620 shipboard agreement that planted the seed of American self-governance
Ninth Amendment
The rights retained by the people
Northwest Ordinance
The 1787 law that established the framework for American territorial expansion
Seventh Amendment
The right to a jury trial in civil cases
Sixth Amendment
The right to a speedy, public, and fair criminal trial
Tenth Amendment
The powers reserved to the states and the people
The Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified 1791
The Federalist Papers
The 85 essays that explained the Constitution to a skeptical public — and defined American political thought
The Second Amendment
Twenty-seven words at the center of America's gun debate
Third Amendment
The near-forgotten ban on quartering soldiers in private homes
U.S. Constitution
The 1787 framework of government that has governed the United States ever since
Washington's Farewell Address
The 1796 letter in which the first president warned against the dangers that would define American history