America was not created by a single document. Over fifteen remarkable years, the Founders developed four documents that transformed the ideals of the American Revolution into a new system of government. The Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights tell the story of that journey—from declaring independence and forming a nation to creating a lasting government designed to protect liberty and individual rights.
The founding documents of the United States are the core text that establish the nation’s principles, structure, and laws. They are often grouped into four primary documents, with a a few additional key writing that shape their meaning . (Click on each document for a copy of the full text)
