With the NARA/History Day/U.S. News list, which is nearly a decade old, with the constant debate over the U.S. history curriculum in elementary school, high school, and college, and with the recent wave of interest in the history of the Civil War and the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, it seems that the time has come for historians to Ask the Question Again: What are the 10 most important documents in U.S. history? Do American historians generally agree or disagree with the results of the NARA/History Day/U.S. News poll? For the patriot and lover of our nation`s history, have our founding documents framed in your home. Brings together the abridged texts of forty-five important speeches by American public figures who have spoken in times of change. Includes a speech on women`s rights by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Abraham Lincoln`s gettysburg address. 2006. Download DB91386 The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in the history of the United States. Nearly 40,000 people attended and voted nearly 300,000 times. The top ten documents, voters said, were: As the birthplace of America, Philadelphia played a central role in the formation of the United States of America, with five of the most important documents written at least in part by the Founding Fathers of Philadelphia: Note: The Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights were explicitly excluded from the poll. since they would be practically in the top three by default. We wanted to give other documents a chance! The Civil Rights Act was important on two levels.
First, the process of eliminating outdated laws and practices began in the United States. Second, it served as a rallying point for a political realignment between Republicans and Democrats in 1968. In school, most Americans encounter for the first time the basic documents of the nation`s history. Many of us can quote the preamble to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, as well as speeches by national figures. Often, however, the quotes are only approximate and our knowledge acquired in childhood may be incomplete or only half memorized. The books in this mini-bibliography can help us refresh our knowledge with the full text of many basic documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the contemporary commentary on the Federalist Papers, and Thomas Paine`s essays. This mini-bibliography also offers collections of important speeches by well-known later leaders. Presents seven of the nation`s most important documents, provides historical context, and breaks down the most important details of each document.
Includes the Declaration of Independence, constitution, Bill of Rights and others. For readers in grades 4 to 7 and above. 2018. Download DB91388 Each of these ten documents represents an essential and important period in American history and continues to be taught and studied as a framework of the modern United States. Contains the full text of the 1776 Declaration of Independence and the 1787 United States Constitution, as well as the twenty-seven amendments to the Constitution. Includes an introduction by Pauline Maier that contains historical information about both documents. Bestseller. 1998. Download BR13599 Download DB52778 Almost ten years ago, the National Archives registered in the United States. News and World Report and National History Day combined for the People`s Vote project, which called on ordinary citizens to vote on the 100 most important documents in American history from before the American Revolution to 1965. Norwich University is an important part of American history. Founded in 1819, Norwich is a nationally recognized college, the birthplace of the Reserve Officers` Training Corps (ROTC) and the first private military college in the United States.
Winners announced in reader survey “What are the 10 most important documents in American history?” Nearly 800 readers voted – the most important document in American history is the Marshall Plan!* This gallery presents resources designed to enhance the study of some important primary source documents in American history. His hesitation faded in January 1863 when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation and changed the nature of the war. All slaves held in the Confederate States would be considered free if they were freed by the Union Army or escaped north. More importantly, by shifting the war`s focus from maintaining the Union to slavery, Lincoln effectively stopped any chance of European intervention on the Confederate side. Learn about highlights of American history, including founding documents. The Federalist Papers, written to call on New York voters to ratify the Constitution, were the first major commentary on this document and continue to provide a basis for its interpretation. Fifty-one of the founding essays are presented here, along with detailed notes and a guide to the writings on the Federalist Papers. 1981. Download DB26691 The history of the United States is full of powerful documents that helped shape the nation. At the heart of American history are ten highly influential documents known both for their profound statements and for their influence on the nation`s history.
Designed by architect John Russell Pope as the sanctuary of American democracy, the ornate rotunda, with its imposing dome-shaped ceiling, also features two murals by Barry Faulkner depicting fictional scenes from the “presentations” of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. History – Brown v. Board of Education Re-enactment: The Plessy Decision, United States Courts recounts the creation of Kennedy`s inaugural speech during the ten days of January 1961, shortly before he was sworn in as president. Discusses the political context, people and perspectives that influenced the discourse. Contributes to the debate on the parts of the speech that were written by Kennedy himself. 2004. Download BR15797 The establishment of the U.S. government, its purpose, form, and structure are contained in the U.S. Constitution.
The Constitutional Convention adopted the Constitution on 17 September 1787. The 19th Amendment broke new ground by extending the right to vote to all adults in the United States. This was a monumental achievement for the women`s rights movement and spurred new actions for wage justice, more educational opportunities and discussion on women`s health issues. Written in 1787, ratified in 1788 and in force since 1789, the United States Constitution is the longest-preserved written government charter in the world. The Social Security Act was a cornerstone of Roosevelt`s tripartite plan for the New Deal. It provided a minimum income for America`s elderly, who were devastated by depression. The law also opened the door to other federal benefits, including Medicare and Medicaid, later in the century. Obama`s inaugural speech of 2009, three speeches by Lincoln, and Emerson`s classical philosophical thesis of 1841. 2009. Download BR18103 The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. It guarantees better constitutional protection of individual freedoms and lists specific prohibitions of state power.
In total, there are 27 constitutional amendments. The 27th Amendment, originally proposed in 1789, was not ratified until 1992. In 1761, fifteen years before the United States of America declared itself a new nation with the Declaration of Independence, American settlers were loyal British subjects celebrating the coronation of King George III. The settlements stretched from present-day Maine to Georgia. The colonies had a distinct English character, although they were settled by Scots, Welsh, Irish, Dutch, Swedes, Finns, Africans, French, Germans, Swiss, and English. The end of slavery was only the beginning of the struggle for racial equality among African Americans. Black codes and Jim Crow laws sought to keep alive the institution of slavery, and limited economic opportunities forced former slaves to live in abject poverty. The Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. It defines the rights of citizens and states in relation to government.