The following is a list of documents, essays, and speeches that are important to US history. In those taking place prior to the Declaration and the revolutionary war, take note of the grievances cited by the colonists:
- A crappy, manipulated, corrupt, and useless judicial system
- Less than just and adequate representation
- Standing armies repeatedly at their door
- Unreasonable taxation
- The inability to create their own laws
- British officials not following the law
- And more
Also take note that in most instances, while they were warning their mother country to stop poking them, they still swore loyalty to the crown.
Several of these documents also make it evident that several of the founding fathers were religious, not mere deists, but believed in the Almighty and Omnipotent, and in the divinity of Jesus Christ.
Documents will be added to this list over time.
Prior to the Declaration of Independence:
- The Currency Act; April 19, 1764
- The Sugar Act : September 29, 1764
- Petition from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to the House of Commons; November 3, 1764
- Petition of the Virginia House of Burgesses to the House of Commons: December 18, 1764
- The Stamp Act, March 22, 1765
- The Quartering Act; May 15, 1765
- Resolves of the Pennsylvania Assembly on the Stamp Act
- Resolutions of the Continental Congress October 19, 1765
- New York Merchants Non-importation Agreement; October 31, 1765
- Connecticut Resolutions on the Stamp Act: December 10, 1765
- An Act Repealing the Stamp Act; March 18, 1766
- The Declaratory Act; March 18, 1766
- The Townshend Act, November 20, 1767
- Massachusetts Circular Letter to the Colonial Legislatures; February 11, 1768
- Boston Non-Importation Agreement, August 1, 1768
- Resolutions of the Boston Town Meeting; September 13, 1768
- Charleston Non-Importation Agreement; July 22, 1769
- The Philadelphia Resolutions; October 16, 1773
- Association of the Sons of Liberty in New York; December 15, 1773
- The Boston Port Act : March 31, 1774
- Circular Letter of the Boston Committee of Correspondence; May 13, 1774
- The Administration of Justice Act; May 20, 1774
- The Massachusetts Government Act; May 20, 1774
- Letter from the New York Committee of Fifty-One to the Boston Committee of Correspondence; May 23, 1774
- The Quartering Act; June 2, 1774
- Proceedings of the Inhabitants of Philadelphia; June 18, 1774
- The Association of the Virginia Convention; August 1-6, 1774
- The Quebec Act: October 7, 1774
- Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress, October 14, 1774
- Resolutions of the Provincial Congress of Virginia; March 23, 1775
- Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death – Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775
- A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North-America, Now Met in Congress at Philadelphia, Setting Forth the Causes and Necessity of Their 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 Cconstitution for Virginia, June 1776
- Lee’s Resolutions, June 7, 1776
- Virginia Declaration of Rights, June 12, 1776
- Constitution of New Jersey; July 2, 1776
After The Declaration of Independence:
- Constitution of Georgia; February 5, 1777
- Constitution of Pennsylvania – September 28, 1776
- Constitution of North Carolina : December 18, 1776
- The Constitution of New York : April 20, 1777
- Constitution of Vermont – July 8, 1777
- Constitution of South Carolina – March 19, 1778
- Constitution of Vermont – July 4, 1786
- The Federalist Papers
- First Inaugural Address of George Washington, APRIL 30, 1789
- The Judiciary Act; September 24, 1789
- Fourth Annual Message of George Washington, November 6 ,1792
- George Washington’s Sixth Annual Address — November 19, 1794
- Proclamation of January 1, 1795
- Thanksgiving Proclamation
- Washington’s Farewell Address
- Inaugural Address of John Adams, March 4, 1797
- Virginia Resolution – Alien and Sedition Acts
- Letters Between the Danbury Baptists and Thomas Jefferson – October 7, 1801
- Thomas Jefferson Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1805