America's Founding Documents
National Archives · n.d. · Charters
Hub for the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
Declaration of Independence
National Archives · 1776 · Charters
The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, 1776. Jefferson was the principal drafter; the Committee of Five also included Adams, Franklin, Sherman, and Livingston.
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration (opens in a new tab)
Declaration of Independence — transcript
National Archives · 1776 · Charters
Official transcript of the Declaration.
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript (opens in a new tab)
US Constitution
National Archives · 1787 · Charters
The Constitution was signed September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia. Matches the place; the How Did It Happen page below is the Convention narrative.
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution (opens in a new tab)
US Constitution — transcript
National Archives · 1787 · Charters
Official transcript, including Article I (Congress, militia clauses, Senate), Article II (electors), Article IV (new states), Article V (equal suffrage in the Senate), and Article VII (nine-state threshold).
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript (opens in a new tab)
Bill of Rights
National Archives · 1789 · Charters
The first ten amendments. Ratified December 15, 1791.
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights (opens in a new tab)
Bill of Rights — transcript
National Archives · 1789 · Charters
Text of Amendments I–X as taught in Keys: speech, arms, quartering, search, bail and punishment, retained rights, reserved powers.
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript (opens in a new tab)
Treaty of Paris (1783)
National Archives · 1783 · Charters
Britain recognized US independence. Signed September 3, 1783. Distinct from the 1898 Treaty of Paris with Spain.
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/treaty-of-paris (opens in a new tab)
Article IV, Section 3 — Admissions Clause
Constitution Annotated, Library of Congress · n.d. · Structure
New states may be admitted by Congress. Equal-footing doctrine for later states. Vermont (1791) was the first state admitted after the original 13; Hawaii (1959) the last.
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-4/section-3/ (opens in a new tab)
Twenty-Third Amendment — District of Columbia Electors
Constitution Annotated, Library of Congress · n.d. · Structure
D.C. appoints electors as if it were a state, but never more than the least populous state. Not statehood. Not Senate seats.
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-23/ (opens in a new tab)
Congress's Power to Organize Militias
Constitution Annotated, Library of Congress · n.d. · Structure
Article I, Section 8, Clause 16: organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia, with states retaining officers and training.
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C16-1/ALDE_00013673/ (opens in a new tab)
Electoral College FAQ — Can citizens of US Territories vote for President?
National Archives · n.d. · Structure
No. The Electoral College process does not provide for residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa to vote for President. D.C. residents vote for president under the 23rd Amendment (first in 1964).
https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/faq (opens in a new tab)
What is the Electoral College?
National Archives · n.d. · Structure
538 electors. Each state: House seats plus two senators. D.C. has three electors under the 23rd Amendment.
https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/about (opens in a new tab)
Act of July 16, 1790 (Residence Act), 1 Stat. 130
National Archives Catalog · 1790 · Structure
Created the federal district that became Washington, D.C., so the seat of government would sit in no single state.
Northwest Ordinance (1787)
National Archives · 1787 · Structure
Adopted July 13, 1787. Chartered government for the Northwest Territory, a method for admitting new states, a territorial bill of rights, and a ban on slavery in the territory. Ohio was the first state admitted from that territory.
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/northwest-ordinance (opens in a new tab)
17th Amendment — Direct Election of Senators
National Archives · 1913 · Structure
Ratified April 8, 1913. Senators are chosen by popular vote, not by state legislatures. It did not change equal suffrage of two senators per state.
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/17th-amendment (opens in a new tab)
US Army birthday — June 14, 1775
United States Army · n.d. · Charters
Official establishment of the Continental Army: June 14, 1775, more than a year before the Declaration. Keys sequence (Army, then Declaration, then Constitution) matches.
The Great Compromise of the Constitutional Convention
Constitution Annotated, Library of Congress · n.d. · Charters
Adopted July 16, 1787. House by population; Senate with equal state representation. Also called the Connecticut Compromise for Sherman and the Connecticut delegates.
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S1-2-3/ALDE_00001313/ (opens in a new tab)
Origin of a Bicameral Congress — New Jersey Plan
Constitution Annotated, Library of Congress · n.d. · Charters
William Paterson’s New Jersey Plan: unicameral Congress, one vote per state. The equal-vote claim matches; the Plan was unicameral, not the later two-house form.
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S1-2-2/ALDE_00001312/ (opens in a new tab)
Observing Constitution Day — Ratification
National Archives · n.d. · Convention
The first state to ratify was Delaware, December 7, 1787, unanimous 30–0 — the First State. New Hampshire became the ninth in June, meeting the Article VII threshold. When a bill of rights was proposed in Congress in 1789, North Carolina ratified.
https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/constitution-day/ratification.html (opens in a new tab)
The Bill of Rights: How Was it Made?
National Archives · n.d. · Convention
President Washington sent the proposed amendments to the eleven states already in the Union and to Rhode Island and North Carolina, which had not yet adopted the Constitution.
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights/how-was-it-made (opens in a new tab)
The Constitution: How Did It Happen?
National Archives · n.d. · Convention
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May of 1787. Signed September 17, 1787.
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution/how-did-it-happen (opens in a new tab)
Historical Background on Seat of Government Clause
Constitution Annotated, Library of Congress · n.d. · Structure
Maryland and Virginia both authorized the cession of territory; Congress accepted (Act of July 16, 1790, 1 Stat. 130).
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C17-1-1/ALDE_00001079/ (opens in a new tab)