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Readings — The Founders' Constitution

Note: All documents are in Adobe's PDF format, and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print these documents.

The English Constitution

• Magna Carta
• David Hume, History of England, Vol. 1, pp. 420-54 (on Magna Carta)
• Petition of Right
• English Bill of Rights

The American Revolution and the New State Governments

• Burke, "Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies"
• Paine, "Common Sense" (Section on the Origin and Design of Government in General and the section presenting Thoughts of the Present State of American Affairs)
• Jefferson, "Summary View of the Rights of British America"
• Virginia Declaration of Rights
• Thomas Jefferson's Draft of the Declaration of Independence (begins on p. 199)
• Pennsylvania Constitution (1776)
• Virginia Constitution (1776)
• Massachusetts Constitution (1780)

The Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional Convention

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787

The Federal Executive

• Federal Farmer XIII
• Federal Farmer XIV
• Cato, 8 Nov. 1787
• An Old Whig, 11 Dec. 1787

The Bill of Rights

• Madison, "Memorial and Remonstrance"
• Jefferson, "Bill for Establishing Religious Liberty"

The Founders Interpret the Constitution

• Debate in the First Congress over the Removal of Power (16, 17 June 1789)
• Madison, Veto Message regarding Bill to Incorporate Episcopal Church (21 February, 1811)
• Controvery over the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798:
  • Virginia Resolution
  • Virginia Debate
  • Counterresolutions of NY, Del, RI, Mass