The American Constitution - A Documentary Record

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Magna Carta, 1215

Mayflower Compact; November 11, 1620

Fundamental Orders of January 14, 1639

Fundamental Agreement, or Original Constitution of the Colony of New Haven, June 4, 1639

Agreement of the Settlers at Exeter in New Hampshire, 1639

The Combinations of the Inhabitants Upon the Piscataqua River for Government, October 22, 1641

The Articles of Confederation of the United Colonies of New England; May 19, 1643

Government of New Haven Colony; October 27 - November 6, 1643

The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina : March 1, 1669

The Fundamental Constitutions for the Province of East New Jersey in America, Anno Domini 1683

English Bill of Rights, 1689

Penn's Charter of Libertie - April 25, 1682

Frame of Government of Pennsylvania - May 5, 1682

Frame of Government of Pennsylvania - February 2, 1683

Frame of Government of Pennsylvania - 1696


Revolution and Independence

Albany Plan of Union 1754

Resolutions of the Congress of 1765

Declarations and Resolves of the First Continental Congress; 1774

The Articles of Association; October 20, 1774

The Mecklenburgh Resolutions : May 20, 1775

The Charlotte Town Resolves; May 31, 1775

Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms : July 6, 1775

Resolution of Secrecy Adopted by the Continental Congress, November 9, 1775

Constitution of New Hampshire - January 5, 1776

Constitution of South Carolina - March 26, 1776

Preamble and Resolution of the Virginia Convention, May 15, 1776

Draft Constitution for Virginia; June 1776

Lee's Resolution; June 7, 1776

Virginia Declaration of Rights; June 12, 1776

The Constitution of Virginia; June 29, 1776

Constitution of New Jersey; July 2, 1776

Declaration of Independence; July 4, 1776

Constitution of Delaware; September 10, 1776

Constitution of Pennsylvania - September 28, 1776

Constitution of Maryland; November 11, 1776

Constitution of North Carolina; December 18, 1776

Constitution of Georgia; February 5, 1777

Constitution of New York; April 20, 1777

Constitution of Vermont; July 8, 1777

Constitution of South Carolina; March 19, 1778

Articles of Confederation; 1781

Constitution of Vermont; July 4, 1786

The Annapolis Convention; September 11, 1786

Report of Proceedings in Congress; February 21, 1787

Northwest Ordinance July 13, 1787


Credentials of the Members of the Federal Convention

State of Connecticut; May 2, 1787

Commonwealth of Massachusetts; April 9, 1787

State of New Hampshire; June 27, 1787

State of New Jersey; June 5, 1787

State of New York; March 6, 1787

State of Pennslyvania; March 28, 1787


The Constitutional Convention

Variant Texts of the Virginia Plan, Presented by Edmund Randolph to the Federal Convention, May 29, 1787. Text A.

Variant Texts of the Virginia Plan, Presented by Edmund Randolph to the Federal Convention, May 29, 1787. Text B.

Variant Texts of the Virginia Plan, Presented by Edmund Randolph to the Federal Convention, May 29, 1787. Text C.

The Plan of Charles Pinckney (South Carolina), Presented to the Federal Convention, May 29, 1787

Variant Texts of the Plan Presented by William Patterson, ( N. J. ) to the Federal Convention, June 15, 1787. Text A

Variant Texts of the Plan Presented by William Patterson, ( N. J. ) to the Federal Convention, June 15, 1787. Text B

Variant Texts of the Plan Presented by William Patterson, ( N. J. ) to the Federal Convention, June 15, 1787. Text C

Variant Texts of the Plan Presented by Alexander Hamilton to the Federal Convention, June 18, 1787. Text. A

Variant Texts of the Plan Presented by Alexander Hamilton to the Federal Convention, June 18, 1787. Text. B

Variant Texts of the Plan Presented by Alexander Hamilton to the Federal Convention, June 18, 1787. Text. C

Variant Texts of the Plan Presented by Alexander Hamilton to the Federal Convention, June 18, 1787. Text. D

Variant Texts of the Plan Presented by Alexander Hamilton to the Federal Convention, June 18, 1787. Text. E

Madison's Notes on Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787

Constitution as Recorded in Madison's Notes; September 12, 1787

Notes of Alexander Hamilton in the Federal Convention of 1787

Notes of Rufus King in the Federal Convention of 1787

Notes of Major William Pierce (Georgia) in the Federal Convention of 1787

Papers of Dr. James McHenry on the Federal Convention of 1787

Notes of William Paterson in the Federal Convention of 1787

Notes of the Secret Debates of the Federal Convention of 1787, Taken by the Late Hon Robert Yates, Chief Justice of the State of New York, and One of the Delegates from That State to the Said Convention

United States Constitution


Ratification and Formation of the Government

Letter of the President of the Federal Convention, Dated September 17, 1787, to the President of Congress, Transmitting the Constitution.

Resolution of the Federal Convention Submitting the Constitution to Congress, September 17, 1787

Resolution of Congress of September 28, 1787, Submitting the Constitution To the Several States.

Circular Letter of the Secretary of Congress, Dated September 28, 1787, Transmitting Copy of the Constitution to the Several Governors.

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Delaware; December 7, 1787

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Pennsylvania; December 12, 1787

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New Jersey; December 18, 1787

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Georgia; January 2, 1788

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Connecticut; January 8, 1788

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Massachusetts; February 6, 1788

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Maryland; April 28, 1788.

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of South Carolina; May 23, 1788.

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New Hampshire; June 21, 1788

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Virginia; June 26, 1788.

Resolution of Congress, Dated July 2, 1788, Submitting Ratifications of the Constitution to a Committee

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New York; July 26, 1788

Resolution of the Congress, of September 13, 1788, Fixing Date for Election of a President, and the Organization of the Government Under the Constitution, in the City of New York.

Resolution of the First Congress Submitting Twelve Amendments to the Constitution; March 4, 1789

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of North Carolina; November 21, 1789

Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Rhode Island; May 29, 1790.

The Federalist Papers

Declaration of the Rights of Man; 1789

Virginia Resolution 1798

Kentucky Resolutions : Draft - October 1798

Kentucky Resolution - 1799