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Key Documents of Liberty: Writing the American Constitution
This List Is By:
Liberty Fund Staff
Liberty Fund, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
This collection of Key Documents of Liberty documents the struggle to create free institutions from the ancient world to the modern. It is part of a series of Reading Lists which will include:
- Key Documents of Liberty: The Ancient and Medieval Periods
- Key Documents of Liberty: 17th Century England
- Key Documents of Liberty: 17th Century North America
- Key Documents of Liberty: the American Revolution
- Key Documents of Liberty: Writing the American Constitution
- Key Documents of Liberty: Interpreting the American Constitution
The documents were taken from the following works:
- The American Republic: Primary Sources, ed. Bruce Frohnen (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2002).
- Liberty and Order: The First American Party Struggle, ed. and with a Preface by Lance Banning (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2004).
- [Empire and Nation: Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania (John Dickinson). Letters from the Federal Farmer (Richard Henry Lee), ed. Forrest McDonald (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund
- Pamphlets on the Constitution of the United States, published during its Discussion by the People, 1787-1788, edited with notes and a bibliography by Paul Leicester Ford (Brooklyn, N.Y., 1888).
- The Federalist (The Gideon Edition), Edited with an Introduction, Reader’s Guide, Constitutional Cross-reference, Index, and Glossary by George W. Carey and James McClellan (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2001).
Additional readings and documents can be found in The Founders’ Constitution, edited by Philip B. Kurland and Ralph Lerner (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2001), 5 vols.
1785/6: Madison and Jefferson on Religious Freedom
Bruce Frohnen, The American Republic: Primary Sources, ed. Bruce Frohnen (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2002). Chapter: Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments: Virginia Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/669/206220 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
1787: Brutus, Essay I
Bruce Frohnen, The American Republic: Primary Sources, ed. Bruce Frohnen (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2002). Chapter: Essay I
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/669/206216 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
1787: Brutus, Essay II
Lance Banning, Liberty and Order: The First American Party Struggle, ed. and with a Preface by Lance Banning (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2004). Chapter: “Brutus,” Essay II 1 November 1787
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/875/63766 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
1787: Brutus, Essay V
Bruce Frohnen, The American Republic: Primary Sources, ed. Bruce Frohnen (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2002). Chapter: Essay V: “brutus” 1787
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/669/206255 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
1787: Centinel: Letter I
Bruce Frohnen, The American Republic: Primary Sources, ed. Bruce Frohnen (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2002). Chapter: Letter I
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/669/206214 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
1787: Lee, Letters from the Federal Farmer III
John Dickinson, Empire and Nation: Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania (John Dickinson). Letters from the Federal Farmer (Richard Henry Lee), ed. Forrest McDonald (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1999). Chapter: letter iii
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/690/102315 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
1787: Lee, Letters from the Federal Farmer VII
John Dickinson, Empire and Nation: Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania (John Dickinson). Letters from the Federal Farmer (Richard Henry Lee), ed. Forrest McDonald (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1999). Chapter: letter vii
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/690/102319 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
1787: Jay, Address to the People of NY
Paul Leicester Ford, Pamphlets on the Constitution of the United States, published during its Discussion by the People, 1787-1788, edited with notes and a bibliography by Paul Leicester Ford (Brooklyn, N.Y., 1888). Chapter: Jay, John. An / Address / to the / People / of the / State of New-York / On the Subject of the / Constitution, / Agreed upon at Philadelphia, / The 17th of September, 1787. / New-York: / Printed by Samuel Loudon, / Printer to the State. [1788].
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/1670/1957 on 2010-02-10
The text is in the public domain.
1787: The Northwest Ordinance
Bruce Frohnen, The American Republic: Primary Sources, ed. Bruce Frohnen (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2002). Chapter: Northwest Ordinance 1787
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/669/206165 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
1787: Mason, Objections to the Proposed Constitution
Paul Leicester Ford, Pamphlets on the Constitution of the United States, published during its Discussion by the People, 1787-1788, edited with notes and a bibliography by Paul Leicester Ford (Brooklyn, N.Y., 1888). Chapter: Mason, George. The Objections of the / Hon. George Mason, / to the proposed Federal Constitution. / Addressed to the Citizens of Virginia. / ….. / Printed by Thomas Nicholas.
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/1670/1988 on 2010-02-10
The text is in the public domain.
1787: Pelatiah Webster, The Weakness of Brutus exposed
Paul Leicester Ford, Pamphlets on the Constitution of the United States, published during its Discussion by the People, 1787-1788, edited with notes and a bibliography by Paul Leicester Ford (Brooklyn, N.Y., 1888). Chapter: Webster, Pelatiah. The Weakness of Brutus exposed: / or, some / Remarks / in / Vindication of the Constitution / proposed by the late / Federal Convention, / against the / Objections and gloomy Fears of that Writer / Humbly offered to the Public, / By / a
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/1670/1960 on 2010-02-10
The text is in the public domain.
1787: Ramsay, An Address to the Freemen of South Carolina
Paul Leicester Ford, Pamphlets on the Constitution of the United States, published during its Discussion by the People, 1787-1788, edited with notes and a bibliography by Paul Leicester Ford (Brooklyn, N.Y., 1888). Chapter: Ramsay, David. An / Address / to the / Freemen / of / South Carolina, / on the subject of the / Federal Constitution, / Proposed by the Convention, which met in / Philadelphia, May, 1787. / Charleston, / Printed by Bowen and Co., No. 31, Bay.
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/1670/2012 on 2010-02-10
The text is in the public domain.
1787: Selections forom the Federalist
Read chapters 9, 10, 39, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 78, 84, 85.
George W. Carey, The Federalist (The Gideon Edition), Edited with an Introduction, Reader’s Guide, Constitutional Cross-reference, Index, and Glossary by George W. Carey and James McClellan (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2001). Chapter: No. 9: The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/788/108575 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
1787: The Constitution of the United States of America
Bruce Frohnen, The American Republic: Primary Sources, ed. Bruce Frohnen (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2002). Chapter: The Constitution of the United States of America 1787
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/669/206172 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
1787: Virginia and New Jersey Plans
Bruce Frohnen, The American Republic: Primary Sources, ed. Bruce Frohnen (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2002). Chapter: Virginia and New Jersey Plans 1787
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/669/206169 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
1787: Wilson, SUBSTANCE OF AN ADDRESS to a MEETING OF THE CITIZENS OF PHILADELPHIA
Paul Leicester Ford, Pamphlets on the Constitution of the United States, published during its Discussion by the People, 1787-1788, edited with notes and a bibliography by Paul Leicester Ford (Brooklyn, N.Y., 1888). Chapter: Wilson, James. SUBSTANCE OF AN ADDRESS to a MEETING OF THE CITIZENS OF PHILADELPHIA, delivered, october sixth, mdcclxxxvii , 1787
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/1670/1967 on 2010-02-10
The text is in the public domain.
1788: Amendments Recommended by the Several State Conventions
Lance Banning, Liberty and Order: The First American Party Struggle, ed. and with a Preface by Lance Banning (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2004). Chapter: Amendments Recommended by the Several State Conventions
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/875/63767 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
1789: Madison, Speech Introducing Proposed Constitutional Amendments
Bruce Frohnen, The American Republic: Primary Sources, ed. Bruce Frohnen (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2002). Chapter: Speech Introducing Proposed Constitutional Amendments: Debate over First Amendment Language August 15, 1789: The First Ten Amendments to the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights 1789
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/669/206224 on 2010-02-10
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.