FAQs
The Constitution
Written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, the U.S. Constitution is the world's longest surviving written charter of government.
What are the important documents in U.S. history? ›
The Constitution
Written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, the U.S. Constitution is the world's longest surviving written charter of government.
What are the 4 major founding documents in American history? ›
Encounter the original founding documents of the United States in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, the permanent home of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and Bill of Rights.
What is the oldest document in the United States history? ›
The Kensington rune stone, the oldest native document of American history, | Library of Congress.
What was the first document that kept the United States united? ›
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. This document served as the United States' first constitution. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.
What are 3 important documents? ›
Learn about the United States' founding documents, known together as the Charters of Freedom. The Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights established the government's structure and continue to secure the rights of American citizens.
Which two historical documents has the biggest influence on the US Constitution and why? ›
The amendments to the Constitution that Congress proposed in 1791 were strongly influenced by state declarations of rights, particularly the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776, which incorporated a number of the protections of the 1689 English Bill of Rights and Magna Carta.
What are the primary documents in American history? ›
America's Historical Documents
- Declaration of Independence.
- Articles of Confederation.
- The Constitution.
- Bill of Rights.
- Louisiana Purchase.
- List of Lewis's Purchases.
- District of Columbia Emancipation.
- Emancipation Proclamation.
What was the U.S. called before 1776? ›
For example, president of the Continental Congress Richard Henry Lee wrote in a June 7, 1776 resolution: "These United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be, free and independent States." Before 1776, names for the colonies varied significantly; they included "Twelve United English Colonies of North America", "United ...
What 5 documents influenced the American system of government? ›
The graphic organizers will help the students understand the influence of five documents: the Magna Carta, the Charters of the Virginia Company of London, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
The Articles of Confederation served as the written document that established the functions of the national government of the United States after it declared independence from Great Britain.
What is the oldest legal document in our history? ›
The Code of Ur-Nammu is the oldest known law code surviving today. It is from Mesopotamia and is written on tablets, in the Sumerian language c. 2100–2050 BCE.
What is the oldest text known to man? ›
The earliest confirmed form of writing is recorded on a limestone tablet, known as the Kish tablet, which dates to around 3,500 BCE. The tablet was found on the site of an ancient Sumerian city called Kish, which is located in modern-day Iraq.
What are the most important documents in US history? ›
(Four texts [the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Gettysburg Address] that played a crucial role in the history of the United States of America and that form the basis of the democratic system of government in our country.) Bilingual edition in Spanish and English.
Is God mentioned in the Constitution? ›
While the U.S. Constitution does not mention God, nearly all state constitutions reference either God or the divine, according to a 2017 analysis. God also appears in the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance and on U.S. currency.
What actually happened on July 4th, 1776? ›
Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies' separation from Great Britain.
What is the most important document in the US? ›
Constitution. The Constitution defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States.
What are the most important US founding documents? ›
The Declaration of Independence. The Constitution. The Bill of Rights. America's founding documents were the result of debates and compromises that created a new nation unlike any other.
What was the order of the US documents? ›
Historic Documents
- Magna Carta 1215.
- Columbus Letter Announcing His Discovery 1493.
- The Mayflower Compact 1620.
- Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges 1701.
- Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death Patrick Henry, 1775.
- The Declaration of Independence 1776.
- Articles of Confederation 1777.
- Constitution of the United States ratified 1788.
What are the three most important documents in the National Archives? ›
Now imagine the task of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)—the nation's record keeper. Many people know the National Archives as the keeper of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.