Colonization and the Revolutionary War
Pre-Revolutionary War Primary Documents:
A Memorial Representing the Present State of Religion on the Continent of North America
King William of England Addresses Parliament of the French Question 1701
A Christian At His Calling (Cotton Mather)
Robert Beverleyon Bacon's On Bacon's Rebellion
The Repentance of a Witchcraft Accuser (Salem Witch Trials)
The Duties of Husband's and Wives- Wadsworth-- Boston, (1712)
The Curriculum of the Boston Latin Grammar School -- 1712
The Constitution of the Iroquois
Count Zinzendorf's Negotiations With the Trustees of the Georgia Colony (1733)
Founding Vision for Georgia (1933)
The Spirit of the Laws: <Link to Site>
Primary Documents Leading to the Revolutionary War:
The Rights of British Colonies Asserted and Proved (Otis)
The Objections to the Taxation of our American Colonies
Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress
Declaration of Rights of the Stamp Act Congress
William Pitt's Speech on the Stamp Act
The Examination (Trial) of Benjamin Franklin before Parliament
The Boston Gazette's Article on the Boston Massacre
An Anonymous Account of the Boston Massacre
Captain Thomas Preston's Account of the Boston Massacre
The Rights of the Colonists by Samuel Adams
Eyewitness Account of the Boston Tea Party
John Hancock's Speech on the Boston Massacre
The Declaration and Resolves on Colonial Rights of the First Continental Congress
The Journals of the Continental Congress <Link to Text>
Plan for the Union of Great Britain and the Colonies
The Constitution of the United States of America
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Works of Benjamin Franklin
A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity (1725), A little known theological work in which Franklin made a metaphysical argument for predestination and against free-will. Franklin concluded that all things are ultimately good, because God is in total control and God is good.
Franklin's Advice Concerning His Friend's Sexual Affairs (1745), Illustrating a side of Franklin's character which is seldom exposed.
Observations and Suppositions Towards Forming a New Hypothesis for Explaining the Several Phenomena of Thunder Gusts, (1749) The insights which led to Franklin's famous Kite experimentation, which, in turn, gave Franklin his international reputation which mattered greatly as the U.S. was being birthed.
Albany Plan for a Union (1754) Ben Franklin's first attempt to Unite the States.
In Defense of a Plan for Colonial Union, Benjamin Franklin (1754) Arguments in favor of the Albany Plan of Union, which was rejected as too democratic.
Franklin's Motion for Prayer at the Constitutional Convention
Franklin's Advice to Thomas Paine Regarding the Age of Reason, In this letter, Franklin advises Paine to burn his manuscript of the Age of Reason, because it undermines religious ideals.
Franklin's last Letter to Ezra Stiles, Detailing Franklin's religious opinions
Works of Sam Adams
Writings of Samuel Adams The Online Books Page, (Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803).
Works of George Washington
Rules for Civility (1744)
Journal (1754)
Braddock's Defeat (1755)
General Orders, July 2, 1776
Letter to John Hancock, September 24, 1776
The Battle of Trenton (1776)
Address to the Members of the Volunteer Association and Other Inhabitants..., December 2, 1783
Letter to George Chapman, December 15, 1784 (On importance of education)
Letter to Robert Morris, April 12, 1786 (On the abolition of slavery)
Letter to the President of the Continental Congress, September 17, 1787
First Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789
Letter to the United Baptist Churches in Virginia, May 10, 1789
Thanksgiving Proclamation (1789)
First Annual Message, January 8, 1790 (Order of business for a young Union)
Letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, August, 1790 (On what is a just and good government)
Letter to the Vice President, November 15, 1794
Letter to the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, January 28, 1795 (On education and establishment of a university)
Farewell Address, September 19, 1796 (Public opinion should be enlightened)
Papers of George Washington (Yale Library)
Papers of George Washington (Library of Congress)
Last Will And Testament of George Washington excerpt about slaves (1799)
George Washington's Adopted Daughter Discusses Washington's Religious Character Nelly Custis lived with the Washingtons at Mt. Vernon for twenty years (1779 until 1799). As a daily observer of his life, she was qualified perhaps more than any other to assess George Washington's religion (even perhaps more than George himself, who was reluctant to speak about his own religious affections).
Works of John Adams
Diary of John Adams, excerpts illustrating Adams' sentiments regarding religion.
Letter to James Sullivan, May 26, 1776 (On women and voting rights)
Letter to Zabdiel Adams, June 21, 1776 (On reason, honor, and love of liberty)
Correspondence between John and Abigail Adams, March-April 1776 (On nature and liberty)
"Discourse on Davila--XV," 1776 (Contrast of natural equality and inequalities)
"Thoughts on Government", 1776 (On republican government)
Defense of the American Constitutions, An important excerpt in which Adams recommends various writings of Protestant political theorists
Appendix to the Defence of the Constitutions, 1787 (On the good effects of local institutions)
John Adams Inaugural Address (1797)
Message to the Senate on the Death of George Washington, December 23, 1799
Letters to Benjamin Rush and Samuel Miller, illustrating Adams' hatred for Thomas Paine and his admiration for Calvinists.
American Independence Achieved Upon the Principles of Christianity (1813)
Letter to Evans, June 8, 1819 (The founding's opposition to slavery)
Letter to H. Niles, February 13, 1818 (On the Revolution as a religious revolution of ideas and principles)
Letter to Timothy Pickering, August 6, 1822. Detailing Adams' recollection of the production of the Declaration of Independence. Adams states here that there is not an idea in the Declaration which had not been hackneyed in Congress for two years before.
According to Adams, the substance of the Declaration is contained in the Declaration of Colonial Rights of the Continental Congress,
and the essence of it is contained in The Rights of the Colonists, written before the first Congress met, by Samuel Adams.
Works of Thomas Jefferson
Famous Works
Declaration of Independence, 4 July, 1776
Reply to the Danbury Baptists prefaced by the letter the Baptists first sent to Jefferson (1802)
Annual and Special messages to Congress
Inaugural Addresses
First Inaugural Address (1801)
Second Inaugural Address (1805)
Messages to Congress
Message to the Senate of April 8, 1802 Regarding Article 6 of the Jay Treaty
Message to the Senate of January 11, 1803 Regarding Louisiana
Message to the Senate of October 17, 1803 Regarding the Louisiana Purchase
Message to the Senate and House of October 21, 1803 Regarding the Louisiana Purchase
Message to the Senate and House of January 16, 1804 Regarding the Louisiana Purchase
Indian Addresses
Miscellaneous Papers
Draft Declaration and Protest of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Draft of the Kentucky Resolutions - October 1798
Kentucky Resolution (1799)
From the Minutes of the Board of Visitors, University of Virginia, 1822 - 1825
Plan for Establishing Uniformity in the Coinage, Weights, and Measures of the United States
Report on the Privileges and Restrictions on the Commerce of the United States in Foreign Counies
Resolutions of Congress on Lord North's Conciliatory Proposal
Indexes
Works of James Madison
Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, James Madison. These are the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia, an essential guide to interpreting the intent of the Framers.
The Federalist Papers, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay (1787-88) Arguments for ratification of the proposed Constitution.
Memorial and Remonstrance (Virginia, 1785)
James Madison, speech proposing the Bill of Rights, June 8, 1789
Detached Memoranda (>1817), detailing Madison's views of the importance of no religious establishments
Letter to F.L. Schaeffer (1821) in which Madison credits Luther with leading the way for the appropriate distinction between church and state.
The Works of Thomas Paine
African Slavery in America (1775).
As noted on historyguide.org, "...In London (England) he met Benjamin Franklin who helped him to emigrate to America in October 1774. ... ... Paine settled in Philadelphia where he soon began a new career as a journalist."
As noted on FreeAudio.org, "...Published March 8, 1775 in the Pennsylvania Journal and the Weekly Advertiser, this tract was Thomas Paine's first published work. It is an example of how Thomas Paine, who is famous primarily for his tracts in support of the American Revolution, was interested in liberty no matter what the cause or whether it was politically unfavorable. Paine was one of the first abolitionist writers in America and was a founding member of the first anti-slavery society in America. He wanted to abolish slavery at the time of the American Revolution but that was not to be and we would have to wait for another generation. (The writing of) African Slavery in America stands as a great monument to the abolitionist movement as one of its first and most influential works."
Common Sense (1776) (index)
The American Crisis, 1776 - 1783 (index)
Age Of Reason (1795) (index)
The Age of Reason - Part 1 Paine demonstrates the absurdity of a word of God existing in print. As a Deist, Paine believed that the true word of God is nature.
The Age of Reason - Part 2 Paine demonstrates that neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament can be the Word of God.
Answer to Bishop LLandaff Publication of The Age of Reason generated a storm of controversy. One of Paine's critics was Bishop Llandaff, who published a detailed rebuttal to The Age of Reason. This is Paine's reply to that rebuttal.
Letter to Andrew Dean (1806) Thomas Paine on death and Christianity.
Letters Concerning "The Age of Reason" (1797-1803) Thomas Paine's correspondence concerning The Age of Reason. Includes correspondence with Samuel Adams.
Of the Religion of Deism Compared with the Christian Religion In this hard-hitting article, Paine argues that Deism is superior to Christianity.
Origin of Free-Masonry (1818)
Prospect Papers (1804)
Rights Of Man (1792)
Worship and Church Bells (1797)
American Revolution Military Documents
First-hand Account of the Midnight Ride, Paul Revere (1775)
The New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center
Introduction to the New York State Civil War Soldier Database
Revolutionary War Soldiers Genealogy and (impressive) Related Resources
Revolutionary War Spies and Espionage
The Decisive Day is Come: The Battle of Bunker Hill - Introduction, June 17, 1775, spectacular on-line exhibit, includes letter from Major-General Sir John Burgoyne to Lord Stanley
The Battle of Bunker Hill, Lieutenant J. Waller, First Royal Marine Battalion, to His Brother, Camp of Charlestown Heights, 22 June 1775
The Battle of Trenton, George Washington (1776)
The Recruiting Service, Captain Alexander Graydon, 1776
Army Life, Captain Georg Pausch, 8 September 1776
Christopher Vail's Journal (1775-1782)
Nathan Hale's Capture (1776). Hale needs no introduction. He is the "martyr-spy" of the American Revolution and the patron saint of the American intelligence establishment; his statue stands today just off the main lobby of CIA headquarters.
The Battle of Saratoga, Hessian Account (1777)
Saratoga, Major-General Burgoyne to his nieces, Albany, 20 October 1777
Washington at Brandywine, Captain Ferguson, 70th Foot, September 1777
From the Diary of a Surgeon at Valley Forge, Albigence Waldo (1777)
Letters from Valley Forge (1778)
Alliance with France (1778)
Introduction to Vol. XII from Papers of General Nathaniel Greene, Vol. XII 1 October 1782-21 May 1783, Published for the Rhode Island Historical Society [by] the University of North Carolina Press
Nathanael Greene, incredible history from one man, including "...After Greene's death, a young Yale University graduate, Eli Whitney, came to Savannah to take a tutoring job. Whitney began working for Greene's widow, Catharine, and it was at Mulberry Grove that Whitney invented the cotton gin"
US-France: Treaty of Amity and Commerce February 6, 1778
Comments on Hessian Troops, Lieutenant W. Hale, Philadelphia, 23 March 1778
Monmouth Court House, Lieutenant Hale, Neversunk, 4 July 1778
Treaty with the Delawares (1778)
Washington's Headquarters, Francois Jean, Marquis de Chastellux, 1780
The Norfolk Chronicle, Saturday, February 17, 1781
The Surrender of Cornwalis (1781)
From the Diary of Ebenezer Denny (1781) describing the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown
Preliminary Articles of Peace, U.S. and Great Britain, 30 November 1782
Journal, John Paul Jones; Naval Hero
Treaty of Paris (1783)
More Primary Documents:
Ethan Allen, Revolutionary War hero and Deist.
The Farmer Refuted, Alexander Hamilton (1775). In this defense of the American cause in response to an Anglican minister's criticism of the revolution, Hamilton states that laws, rights, and political principles are all based in the existence and law of God.
John Newton Criticizing Arminians (1775) A letter from the author of "Amazing Grace" claiming that repentance is the not key to atonement.
Daniel Leonard's Letter of January 9, 1775
Defensive War in a Just Cause Sinless, David Jones (1775). Sermon justifying the revolution.
Speech on Conciliation with America, Edmund Burke, March 22, 1775; Burke describes the character of the American colonists and links their commitment to liberty to their Protestantism.
Government Corrupted by Vice, and Recovered by Righteousness, Samuel Langdon, May 31, 1775; This sermon preached a year before Jefferson wrote his declaration, included this phrase: "By the law of nature, any body of people, destitute of order and government, may form themselves into a civil society, according to their best prudence, and so provide for their common safety and advantage."
On Civil Liberty, Passive Obedience, and Nonresistance, Jonathan Boucher (1775) - - Very enlightening introductory paragraph.
A Calm Address To Our American Colonies, John Wesley (1775)
The American Vine, Jacob Duche (1775) - - "The American Vine: A Sermon, Preached in Christ-Church, Philadelphia, before the Honourable Continental Congress, July 20th, 1775. Being the Day Recommended by Them for a General Fast throughout the United English Colonies of America."
The Charlotte Town Resolves (1775) Resolutions of Presbyterians of Mecklenberg, North Carolina.
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death, Patrick Henry (1775). Famous oration which motivated Southerners to join in the battle already taking place in New England.
Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms, Jefferson and Dickinson, July 6, 1775. This document was inspired by the Puritan Declaration of August, 1642, "Declaration of the Lords and Commons to Justify Their Taking Up Arms," available in John Rushworth, ed.,Historical Collections of Private Passages of State, Weighty Matters in Law, Remarkable Proceedings in Five Parliaments (1680-1722),vol. 4, pp. 761-768.
Yankee Doodle The anthem of the Continental Army
The Church's Flight into the Wilderness, Samuel Sherwood, January 17, 1776; A sermon which labels British tyranny Satanic.
The Virginia Declaration of Rights, George Mason (1776) Unquestionably a document which Jefferson had in mind when writing the Declaration of Independence.
Sources of the Declaration of Independence (1776) Documents which prove that Jefferson modeled the Declaration largely upon the 1689 Declaration of Rights.
The Dominion of Providence Over the Passions of Men, John Witherspoon, May 1776. This sermon was preached by a member of the Second Continental Congress during the period in which the members were deciding upon American Independence.
The Declaration of Independence (1776) According to recent scholarship, this document was modeled after the Dutch Calvinist Declaration of Independence. In other words, this statement of basic principles was simply a restatement of what Protestant Political theorists and preachers had been saying for centuries.
Reflections on the Mood at the time of the Signing, Benjamin Rush
State Constitutions A collection of the constitutions of each colony.
Religious Clauses of State Constitutions Demonstrating that most states had establishments of religion.
On the Right to Rebel against Governors, Samuel West (1776)
The True Interest of America Impartially Stated, Charles Inglis (1776). A statement of an American loyal to the King.
Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith (1776). The manual for capitalism, the economic backbone of the United States. Jefferson said this was the best book of its kind.
Resolves of the Continental Congress
Divine Judgements Upon Tyrants, Jacob Cushing, April 20, 1778; a sermon on the three year anniversary of the war.
Election Sermon, Phillips Payson (1778)
Defensive Arms Vindicated (1779) A sermon vindicating the activity of General George Washington.
A Sermon on the Day of the Commencement of the Constitution, Samuel Cooper (1780)
U.S. Articles of Confederation The first Constitution of the United States.
The Origins and Progress of the American Revolution Peter Oliver (1781). Oliver, a tory, names the persons he feels are most responsible for the rebellion. James Otis and the Calvinist clergy ("black regiment") were the chief culprits.
United States Articles of Confederation (1781)
Letters From an American Farmer, Crevecour (1782)
Essay on Money, John Witherspoon, Presbyterian theologian and president of Princeton University.
The Lord's Supper, Joseph Priestly (1783) Another author who Jefferson and Franklin commended. The named dissertation begins on page 231, as this link should deliver. The full work is entitled "An history of the corruptions of Christianity, Volume 1"
Memorial and Remonstrance, James Madison (1785). Championing the principal of religious liberty.
Land Ordinance of 1785 (Jefferson), different viewpoint in two helpful offerings-; Ordinance of 1785 Jefferson had earlier offered a systematic means to prepare new areas for statehood in his Ordinance of 1784. (this) following year, he directed his attention to designing a system for surveying the lands that might avoid the pitfalls of earlier methods of determining boundaries.
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The Land Ordinance Of May 20,1785 One of the main reasons the "LAND ORDINANCE OF 1785" was enacted by the Continental Congress was an attempt to alleviate the financial crisis with which the Revolutionary War had saddled the fledgling American Government. Representatives from the thirteen states had debated and wrestled with the problem of raising money since the start of the revolution. The war debt would exceed 100 million dollars. In yeoman service, the private sector had raised over 20 million dollars, leaving 80 million dollars, according to Thomas Jefferson, to be paid. Under the Articles of Confederation, which was the law of the land in 1781, - - the Constitution not having been adopted until 1789 - - Congress had no power to tax and very little power to enforce any program. But the tremendous increase in pressure to "pay the bills" made them realize that they must do something.
Treaty With the Cherokee (1785)
The Annapolis Convention (1786), prelude to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
The Federalist Papers 1-85, Madison, Jay, and Hamilton's defense of Federalism
Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, James Madison. These are the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia, an essential guide to interpreting the intent of the Framers.
Denominational Affiliations of the Framers of the Constitution, contrary to the myth, this chart shows that only 3 out of 55 of the framers classified themselves as Deists.
Records of the Constitutional Convention (Farrand's Records)
United States Constitution (1787)
Elliot's Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution
Northwest Ordinance (1787) Detailing the manner in which new states may be added to the United States.
Shay's Rebellion (1787) Alas, history repeats in some ways... ... A wave of farm foreclosures in western Massachusetts swept the young republic to its first episode in class struggle. Demonstrators and rioters protested high taxation, the governor's high salary, high court costs and the assembly's refusal to issue paper money (an inflationary measure highly favored by the debtor class).
Letter of Transmittal of U.S. Constitution
Debates in the First Federal Congress Regarding A Religious Amendment to the Constitution(1789), edited by Jim Allison. An important source for understanding the intention of the framers concerning religious liberty. Mr. Allison has collected together the debates in the House and the Senate on this most important subject.
Bill of Rights and the Amendments to The Constitution (1791) The concession to the Anti-Federalists to win their acceptance of the Constitution.
Records of the First Eighteen Federal Congresses
Slave Trade and the Middle Passage, Alexander Falconbridge (1788). Helpful overview. Click the text next to the second image to view the actual document.
The Life of Olaudah Equiano, A Slave's Autobiography (1789)
The Virginia Chronicle, John Leland (1790). Champion of religious disestablishment. Friend and influence upon James Madison. Named article begins on page 92.
Full book entitled "The writings of the late Elder John Leland: including some events in his life, By John Leland, L. F. Greene."
Another discussion cited as "On Dissenting from the Episcopal Church" is not a named article. It is included in this same book and begins on page 107.
Of the Natural Rights of Individuals, James Wilson (1790-91)
On the Equality of the Sexes, Judith Sargent Murray (1790)
The Funeral of Arminianism, William Huntington (1791)
The Rise and Progress of the Young Ladies' Academy of Philadelphia. Discussion begins on page 40 in this book, and cites Molly Wallace's valedictory oration of 1792 as preliminary proof of an "absence of a future".
Greenville Treaty with a number of Indian Tribes (1795)
Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, William Godwin (1793) Part of Jefferson's library of political works.
Treaty of Tripoli (1795) One of nine treaties the United States made with the Barbary States.
The Sedition Act (1798)
On the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic (1798), Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence, emphasizing the religious foundation and goal of all education.
Four Discourses On The General First Principles of Deism (1798), Samuel E. McCorkle, D. D. The biggest intellectual controversy of the 1790's was called the "deist controversy." On the one side were the followers of Thomas Paine, on the other side were the orthodox Christians as represented here by the Rev. McCorkle.
The Kentucky Resolutions (1799).
Particular significance to this host site is revealed in
Acts, Bills, and Laws, 1798 which mentions "...The two sets of resolutions (Virginia and Kentucky) followed a similar argument: The states had the duty to nullify within their borders those laws that were unconstitutional. The Alien and Sedition acts were unconstitutional because they infringed on the reserved powers of the states... ...Nothing concrete resulted from the passage of these resolutions; no other states followed with similar actions. In fact, the Massachusetts legislature passed a declaration to the effect that courts and not state legislatures were the proper arbiters of constitutionality..."