The Declaration of Independence (Annotated). Thomas Jefferson (Declaration)

inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

      In every stage of these Oppressions We Have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be ruler of a free People.

      Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

      We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

      John Hancock.

       New Hamsphire

      Josiah Bartlett

       Wm. Whipple

       Matthew Thornton

       Massachusetts Bay

      Saml. Adams

       John Adams

       Elbridge Gerry

       Robt. Treat Paine

       Rhode Island

      Step. Hopkins

       William Ellery

       Connecticut

      Roger Sherman

       Sam’el Huntington

       Wm. Williams

       Oliver Wolcott

       New York

      Wm. Floyd

       Phil. Livingston

       Frans. Lewis

       Lewis Morris

       New Jersey

      Richd. Stockton

       Jno. Witherspoon

       Fras. Hopkinson

       John Hart

       Abra. Clark

       Pennsylvania

      Robt. Morris

       Benjamin Rush

       Benja. Franklin

       John Morton

       Geo. Clymer

       Jas. Smith

       Geo. Taylor

       James Wilson

       Geo. Ross

       Delaware

      Cæsar Rodney

       Geo. Read

       Tho. M’Kean

       Maryland

      Samuel Chase

       Wm. Paca

       Thos. Stone

       Charles Carroll of Carrollton

       Virginia

      George Wythe

       Richard Henry Lee

       Th. Jefferson

       Benja. Harrison

       Thos. Nelson, jr.

       Francis Lightfoot Lee

       Carter Braxton

       North Carolina

      Wm. Hooper

       Joseph Hewes

       John Penn

       South Carolina

      Edward Rutledge

       Thos. Heyward, junr

       Arthur Middleton

       Thomas Lynch, junr

       Georgia

      Button Gwinnett

       Lyman Hall

       Geo. Walton

      U.S. Constitution

      (1787)

       Table of Contents

       PREAMBLE

       ARTICLE I – The Legislative Branch

       ARTICLE II – The Executive Branch

       ARTICLE III – The Judicial Branch

       ARTICLE IV – The States

       ARTICLE V – Amendments

       ARICLE VI – Debts, Supremacy, Oaths

       ARTICLE VII – Ratification

      PREAMBLE

       Table of Contents

      We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

      ARTICLE I:

       The Legislative Branch

       Table of Contents

       Sec. 1.

      All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

       Sec. 2.

      The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the