United States Founding Documents

1. The Bible -- Far and away the Bible was THE foundational document of the United States of America. 34% of the political quotes of the United States Founding Fathers come directly out of the Bible.

2. George Washington's Farewell Address - September 19, 1796

3. Federal Judiciary Act - September 24, 1789 -- Article III, Section 1, of the United States Constitution says, "The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. ...". In the Federal Judiciary Act of 1789, the Congress created the structure of those first courts under the Constitution.

4. The Bill of Rights - March 4, 1789 -- Many of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention did not sign the Constitution because they thought it gave to much power to the central government, and did not sufficiently protect the rights of the states and the people. Chief of these was George Mason, "the Father of the Bill of Rights". Only after James Madison assured these Founding Fathers that he would introduce a Bill of Rights in Congress, was there enough support to ratify the Constitution.

5. The Northwest Ordinance 1787/1789 -- The Northwest Ordinance, or "The Ordinance of 1787", was passed to explain what was required of a territory wanting to enter the union as a state, and because it was considered so important to the future of the country, the US Founding Fathers passed it again under the Constitution in 1789.

6. The Annals of Congress 1789 - 1st Congress -- U.S. Library of Congress link. Click on Browse under the picture of the volumes to read the annals.

7. The House Journal 1789 - 1st Congress -- U.S. Library of Congress link. Click on Browse under the picture of the volumes to read the journal.

8. The Senate Journal 1789 - 1st Congress -- U.S. Library of Congress link. Click on Browse under the picture of the volumes to read the journal.

9. The Senate Executive Journal 1789 - 1st Congress -- U.S. Library of Congress link. Click on Browse under the picture of the volumes to read the journal.

10. Journal of William Maclay 1789 - 1st Congress -- U.S. Library of Congress link. Click on View Contents under the picture of the volumes to read the journal.

11. George Washington's First Inaugural Address - April 30, 1789

12. The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution 1787-1789 (Elliot's Debates) -- U.S. Library of Congress link. Click on Contents under the picture of the volumes to read the journal.

13. Treaty of Paris - September 3, 1783

14. The Anti Federalist

15. The Federalist
16. The Constitution of the United States of America 1787

17. The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 - Farrand's Records -- U.S. Library of Congress link. Click on the volume under the picture of the volumes to read the records.

18. Benjamin Franklin's call for Prayer - June 28, 1787

19. Notes on the Constitutional Convention - 1787 - By James Madison

20. The Articles of Confederation

21. The Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1776

22. Common Sense - January 10, 1776 - Thomas Paine

23. Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms - July 6, 1775

24. Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death - March 23, 1775 - By Patrick Henry

25. The Articles of Association - October 20, 1774

26. Journals of the Continental Congress 1774 -- Library of Congress link. Click on Browse under the picture of the volumes to read the journals.

27. Letters of Delegates to Congress 1774-1789 -- Library of Congress link. Click on Browse under the picture of the volumes to read the letters.

28. The Rights of the Colonists - November 20, 1772 - By Samuel Adams

29. The Mayflower Compact - November 11, 1620 -- The Mayflower Compact was the first document written in America, that established a government.

Party of 1776 - "No King but King Jesus" - www.partyof1776.net