Primary source documents (letters) concerning the need for a central government written by Madison, Hamilton, Jay, and others.
University of Chicago Press provides a letter from John Jay to Thomas Jefferson in which Jay explains the need to reform the government existing under the Articles of Confederation.
The original text of a letter from Alexander Hamilton to Governor George Clinton of New York in 1778 complaining of inadequate material for the U.S. armed forces and perception of weakness by foreign powers.
The University of Chicago provides a letter from Richard Henry Lee to George Mason in which Lee describes the financial problems the Confederation has run into and suggests minor reforms be made.
The original text of The Virginia Plan presented at the Constitutional Convention. Discusses federal versus consolidated government.
The original text of a letter from James Madison to George Washington discussing his ideas for a new national government that were to soon be presented to the Constitutional Convention as the Virginia Plan.
The original text of a statement by John Tyler, member of the Virginia Constitutional Ratifying Convention, on his opposition to the new Constitution.
This letter from George Mason shows his Anti-Federalist opinions and opposition to a planned centralized government.
The complete, original text of the Massachusetts State Constitution as adopted in March, 1780.
Excerpts from John Locke's famous 1689 work "Two Treatises of Government" where he discusses his political ideas that came to influence the U.S. Revolutionaries.
This speech, "The Address and Reasons of Dissent of the Minority of the Convention of Pennsylvania to Their Constituents," contains some of the arguments for opposing the Constitution.
Read the words of John Adams at the Constitutional Convention where he is debating the meaning of "the people" in the Constitution.
The original text of official Resolutions by members of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 during the debate creating a new national U.S. Constitution.
The original and complete text of the letter approved by the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787 recommending the newly adopted U.S. Constitution to the Congress and the states for ratification.
The text of the Resolution of the Constitutional Convention authorizing the submission of the Constitution of the United States to the legislatures of the states to be ratified by state conventions.
The complete original text of the revolutionary state constitution of Virginia adopted in June 1776.
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides biographies of all 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
Read the actual text of William Penn's "Frame of Government" establishing the basis for self-governing in the colony of Pennsylvania. Outlines the responsibilities and civic duties of government officials and citizens.
Excellent series of maps from University of Texas at Austin - Provides political and shaded relief maps of France and a multitude of historical maps and maps of overseas territories overseas. Also includes maps of several large cities.
Frank Lloyd Wright is regarded by many as the greatest American architect. In his effort to develop an American style of architecture, he designed over 1,100 buildings. Wright is most noted for developing the distinctive Prairie School style of architecture.