Includes Index

The Pilgrims decide to govern themselves : the Mayflower Compact, November 11, 1620 --
The Connecticut towns adopt democracy : the fundamental orders of Connecticut, January, 1655 --
Roger Williams : liberty is not a license : letters to the townsmen of Providence, January 1655 --
William Penn grants a freeman's government : The Concessions and Agreements of West Jersey, March 3, 1675 --
Peter Zenger fights for freedom of the press : Andrew Hamilton's argument, August 4, 1735 --
James Otis denounces tyranny : speech against Writs of Assistance, February, 1761 --
Colonies resist a hated tax : resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress : October 19, 1765 --
The united colonists assert their rights : declarations and resolves of the First Continental Congress, October 14, 1774 --
Free and independent states : The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 --
The states adopt their first constitution : the Articles of Confederation, March 1, 1781 --
Virginia establishes religious freedom : The Virginia statute for religious freedom, January 16, 1786 --
Westward the course of democratic government : the Ordinance of July 13, 1787 --
To form a more perfect union : the Constitution of the United States, June 21 1788 --
Washington assumes the presidency : Washington's first inaugural address, April 30, 1789 --
Washington counsels his countrymen : Washington's farewell address, September 19, 1796 --
Jefferson outlines a better democracy : Jefferson's first inaugural address, March 4, 1801 --
Monroe issues a famous warning : the Monroe doctrine, December 2, 1823 --
Jackson denounces the theory of secession : proclamation against nullification, December 10, 1832 --
Boston's cordwainers win a basic labor right : Commonwealth v. Hunt, March 1842 --
Human freedom is the cause of God : the appeal of the Independent Democrats, January 19, 1854 --
John Brown pleads for the downtrodden : John Browns last speech, November 2, 1859 --
South Carolina justifies secession : Declaration of causes, December 24, 1860 --
We are not enemies, but friends : Lincoln's first inaugural address, March 4, 1861 --
Taney upholds a fundamental right : Opinions in the Merryman case, June 1, 1861 --
Lincoln presents the case for the Union : message to Congress, July 5, 1861 --
Davis presents the case for the Confederacy : Jefferson Davis' inaugural address, February 22, 1862 --
Lincoln dooms slavery : proclamation of emancipation, January 1, 1863 --
Lincoln dedicates a people : The Gettysburg address, November 19, 1863 --
With malice toward none : Lincoln's second inaugural address, March 4, 1865 --
Lee says farewell to a brave army : Lee's farewell to the Arny of Northern Virginia, April 10, 1865 --
David Davis strikes at usurpation : opinion in the Milligan case, December 17, 1866 --
Johnson pleads for reunion without vengeance : Johnson's annual message to Congress, December, 3, 1865 --
A governor rebukes a president : Altgeld's protest to Cleveland, July 6, 1894 --
McKinley offers opportunity : instructions to the Philippine Commission, April 7, 1900 --
Wilson outlines the new freedom : Wilson's First inaugural address, March 4, 1913 --
Wilson's peace without victory : Wilson's address to the Senate, January 11, 1917 --
A reluctant president asks for war : Wilson's message to Congress, April 2, 1917 --
Mr. Justice Holmes dissents : Holmes's dissent in the case of the Russian aliens, November 10, 1919 --
A court defends freedom of Reading : the opinion of Judge Woolsey, December 6, 1933 --
Roosevelt condemns the dictators : Speech at Chicago, October 5, 1937 --
Chief Justice Hughes wipes out a color line : opinion in the case of the Negro law student, Lloyd Gaines, December 12, 1938 --
Roosevelt defines four freedoms : message to Congress, January 6, 1941 --
Roosevelt and Churchill plan a saner world : the Atlantic charter, August 12, 1941 --
Roosevelt accepts the challenge of Japan : broadcast to the nation, December 9, 1941 --
Marshall proposes aid to Europe : address at Harvard University, June 5, 1947 --
Eisenhower charts a change of course : Eisenhower's inaugural address, January 20, 1953.