greykit.essays — American Founding
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1801-03-04
[american-founding]
First Inaugural Address
Jefferson's conciliatory inaugural after a bitter election — "We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.
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1798-12-24
[american-founding]
The Virginia Resolutions of 1798
Madison's companion to the Kentucky Resolutions — the states may "interpose" against unconstitutional federal acts like the Alien and Sedition laws.
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1798-11-10
[american-founding]
The Kentucky Resolutions of 1798
Jefferson's anonymous protest against the Alien and Sedition Acts, arguing the states may judge federal overreach — the compact theory of the Union.
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1797-03-04
[american-founding]
Inaugural Address
Adams's inaugural, professing attachment to the Constitution at the first transfer of the presidency between two men.
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1796-09-19
[american-founding]
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington's valedictory letter to the American people, warning against party faction, sectionalism, and permanent foreign alliances.
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1795-02-07
[american-founding]
Amendments XI–XXVII to the Constitution
The seventeen amendments after the Bill of Rights — from the Eleventh (1795) through the Twenty-seventh (1992).
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1791-12-15
[american-founding]
The Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental civil rights.
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1791-02-23
[american-founding]
Opinion on the Constitutionality of a National Bank
Hamilton's defense of implied powers and a loose reading of the Constitution — the founding argument for broad federal authority.
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1791-02-15
[american-founding]
Opinion on the Constitutionality of a National Bank
Jefferson's strict-construction reply — the enumerated powers bind Congress, and a bank is nowhere among them.
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1789-04-30
[american-founding]
First Inaugural Address
Washington's first inaugural — the diffident opening of the presidency, invoking "the sacred fire of liberty.
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1787-10-27
[american-founding]
The Federalist Papers
The eighty-five essays by "Publius" arguing for ratification of the United States Constitution.
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1787-10-18
[american-founding]
The Anti-Federalist Papers: Brutus
The most formidable Anti-Federalist series — the direct answer to the Federalist, arguing a republic cannot be extended over so vast a territory and warning that the federal judiciary would swallow the states.
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1787-09-17
[american-founding]
The Constitution of the United States
The original 1787 Constitution establishing the federal government of the United States.
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1787-07-13
[american-founding]
The Northwest Ordinance
The charter for the Northwest Territory — guaranteeing rights, mandating public education, and forbidding slavery north of the Ohio.
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1786-01-16
[american-founding]
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Jefferson's statute disestablishing religion in Virginia — that "no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship.
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1777-11-15
[american-founding]
The Articles of Confederation
The first federal constitution of the United States — a league of sovereign states whose weaknesses prompted the Convention of 1787.
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1776-12-23
[american-founding]
The American Crisis
Paine's thirteen wartime Crisis papers (and A Crisis Extraordinary) — "These are the times that try men's souls.
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1776-07-04
[american-founding]
The Declaration of Independence
The thirteen colonies' unanimous declaration dissolving allegiance to the British Crown.
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1776-06-12
[american-founding]
The Virginia Declaration of Rights
Mason's declaration of inherent rights — a direct model for the Declaration of Independence and the federal Bill of Rights.
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1776-04-01
[american-founding]
Thoughts on Government
Adams's blueprint for republican government — a bicameral legislature, an independent judiciary, and annual elections — written as a letter and taken up by several state constitutions.
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1776-01-10
[american-founding]
Common Sense
Paine's incendiary case for American independence and against monarchy and hereditary rule.
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1775-07-06
[american-founding]
Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms
Congress's July 1775 declaration justifying armed resistance a year before independence — "resolved to die freemen rather than to live slaves.
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1775-03-23
[american-founding]
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
Henry's call to arm the Virginia militia against Britain, closing on the most quoted sentence of the Revolution.
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1774-10-14
[american-founding]
Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress
The colonies' first united statement of grievances and of the rights they claimed as Englishmen, on the eve of the Revolution.
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1768-01-01
[american-founding]
Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania
Dickinson's twelve letters against the Townshend duties — the most influential colonial argument that Parliament could not tax the colonies, however the tax was disguised.