US National Archives
Our Documents: 100 Milestone Documents: Gibbons v. Ogden(1824)
Use this site to learn all about this Supreme Court decision that dealt with interstate commerce. View an image of the original document and read the complete text.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Treaty of Ghent (1814)
Access a full-page scan of a page from the 1814 Treaty of Ghent, a transcription, and background information on its significance.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Pacific Railway Act (1862)
Contains images of the original document and a transcript of the complete text of the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 in an easy to read format. Also contains a brief overview on the background behind this act.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Telegram Announcing the Surrender of Fort Sumter (1861)
Offers an image of the original telegram from Major Anderson announcing his surrender of Fort Sumter. Discusses this event and the historical events surrounding it.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Executive Order: Resulting in the Relocation of Japanese
Summarizes the background behind this order that moved people of Japanese ancestry to relocation centers in 1942. Provides a link to an image of the original document and a copy of the text.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Federalist Papers, No. 10 & No. 51
This site presents the full document of the Federalist Papers, No. 10 & No. 51. Content includes information about the document and the full text of the document. This is No. 10. Scroll to the lower part of the page for a link to No....
US National Archives
Our Documents: Washington's First Inaugural Speech
This site presents the full written document of President George Washington's first inaugural speech. Content includes information about the speech, images of the document itself, and a full transcript of the document.
US National Archives
Our Documents: The Federal Judiciary Act
An online resource on the Federal Judiciary Act that provides an explanation of the Act, an image of the document itself, and the text.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Declaration of Independence (1776)
The Our Documents group provides a look at the original, signed Declaration of Independence as well as a print version distributed soon after the original was signed. View and learn about the document and its history. RI.9-10.9 US Documents
US National Archives
Our Documents: Dawes Act (1887)
Read about the development, purpose, and effect of the Dawes Act, which was also known as the General Allotment Act. This site has images of the original document.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Keating Owen Child Labor Act of 1916
This online resource provides the complete text and image of the original document of the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916 along with comprehensive document information. This act "limited the working hours of children and forbade the...
US National Archives
Our Documents: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Learn about this landmark Supreme Court case on the issue of racial discrimination . Provides an image of a document from the case files and a transcript of the opinion delivered in 1896 by Justice Henry Brown "which sustained the...
US National Archives
Our Documents: National Industrial Recovery Act (1933)
Along with an image of the first page of the National Industrial Recovery Act is an excellent description of what it entailed and the high hopes of improving the economy its passing engendered. You can also read about the opposition to...
US National Archives
Our Documents: Platt Amendment (1903)
Find a copy of the Platt Amendment, written out in beautiful handwriting, which can be enlarged for easier viewing. In addiiton is a transcription of this document, and information about it. This was a document signed with Cuba after the...
US National Archives
Our Documents: Pendleton Act (1883)
The passage of the Pendleton Act was a reaction to assassination of President James A. Garfield. Find the text of the act and read a discussion of why such a law is necessary. An image of the document and a transcript of the law are...
US National Archives
Our Documents: Interstate Commerce Act (1887)
Find an image of the original Interstate Commerce Act, passed in 1887, as a remedy to railroad monopolies. Read a transcript of the law, and an explanation of the reasons why such a law was necessary.
US National Archives
Our Documents: A National Initiative on American History, Civics, and Service
Our Documents is home to one hundred milestone documents that influenced that course of American history and American democracy. Includes full-page scans of each document, transcriptions, background information on their significance, and...
US National Archives
Our Documents: De Lome Letter (1898)
This site features an online facsimile of the letter written by the Spanish Ambassador to the United States in which he criticized American President William McKinley. Its publication generated public support for a war with Spain over...
US National Archives
Our Documents: Treaty of Paris (1783)
A wonderful interactive look at an original copy of the Treaty of Paris (1783). This treaty ended the Revolutionary War. Along with the original copy is a brief, informative paragraph. Also find links to larger images and downloadable...
US National Archives
Our Documents: The Us Constitution (1787)
See the original copy of the United States Constitution! This interactive page lets you point to the part you would like to see. Along with background information, you can also link to larger images, a typed transcript, and downloadable....
US National Archives
Our Documents: The Bill of Rights (1791)
An interactive experience with the Bill of Rights. The Our Documents group allows you to view a copy of the original Bill of Rights. There is a brief information section along with links to larger images, a typed transcript, and...
US National Archives
Our Documents: The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)
The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by Congress in 1798 because of feared war with France. This engaging page gives you the opportunity to see a complete copy of the original document and also gives links to a typed transcript,...
US National Archives
Our Documents: The Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803)
A fantastic site from the Our Documents group that allows visitors to see an original copy of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty of 1803. This treaty allowed the United States to purchase a tract of land west of the Mississippi River that was...
US National Archives
Our Documents: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
An interactive exploration of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was signed in 1848 and ended the Mexican-American War. Puts the treaty in context, makes reference to U.S. territorial gains, and includes links to larger images, a...