Historical Documents

Ben's Guide to U.S. Government: Historical Documents
This site, created by the U.S. Government Printing Office, provides information about a number of historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Gettysburg Address.

The Charters of Freedom 
Each year more than a million visitors come to the Rotunda of the National Archives to see the Charters of Freedom on display there: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. You can view them online here.

A Chronology of US Historical Documents 
Organized by century, the University of Oklahoma College of Law provides a directory of links to historical documents that date from the Pre-Colonial Era to the present. 

Core Documents of U.S. Democracy 
The goal of this site, created by the U.S. Government Printing Office, is to provide American citizens direct online access to the basic Federal Government documents that define our democratic society.

The Exhibit Hall 
The National Archives and Records Administration provides their government document and historical exhibitions online, including the Charters of Freedom, "American Originals: Treasures of Congress," and "When Nixon Met Elvis."

Historical Documents 
The National Constitution Center links to historical documents that relate to American Constitutional History, such as the Mayflower Compact, the Articles of Confederation, the Federalist Papers, the Emancipation Proclamation and more.

Return to top

Snap Shots enhances links with visual previews. Learn More

Last Updated: February 9, 2009