Historical Documents

of the United States of America

 

Transcriptions of original documents are available throughout the internet. There are hundreds of websites devoted solely to providing transcriptions of original documents. Therefore, the intention of providing documents on this website is not for the purpose of providing something unique and/or proprietary. The purpose for providing the documents that are reproduced here is to make them easily accessible to visitors of MotherBedford.
     The documents that have been chosen to be included here are ones which had some general influence on the development of the English colonies toward becoming the United States of America. Documents pertaining to a specific region other than the colony of Pennsylvania, or the frontier that would become Bedford County in 1771, have been left out. For that reason, the Virginia Charter has not been included, whereas the Stamp Act, which influenced all of the colonies, has been included. The Charter of Pennsylvania has been included since it ultimately led to the establishment of Lancaster, York, Cumberland and then Bedford County.

 

It should be noted that the transcriptions included here are as accurate as humanly possible. The original source materials, for each document, were located and transcribed in their entirety. Spelling, capitalization and punctuation have been transcribed accurate to the original source materials.

  The Mayflower Compact ~ 1620

  The New England Confederation ~ 1643

  The First Navigation Act ~ 1651

  The Second Navigation Act ~ 1660

  The Third Navigation Act ~ 1663

  The Fourth Navigation Act ~ 1673

  The Charter Of Pennsylvania ~ 1681

  The Frame Of The Government Of The Province Of Pennsylvania ~ 1682

  The Frame Of The Government Of The Province Of Pennsylvania ~ 1683

  The Fifth Navigation Act ~ 1696

  The Frame Of The Government Of The Province Of Pennsylvania ~ 1696

  The Plan Of Union By William Penn ~ 1697

  The Wool Act ~ 1699

  The Charter Of Privileges ~ 1701

  The Hat Act ~ 1732

  The Sugar & Molasses Act ~ 1733

  The Iron Act ~ 1750

  The Currency Act ~ 1751

  The Writ Of Assistance ~ 1762

  The Treaty Of Paris ~ 1763

  The Royal Proclamation ~ 1763

  The Sugar Act ~ 1764

  The Currency Act ~ 1764

  The Stamp Act ~ 1765

  The Quartering Act ~ 1765

  The Declaration Of Rights (& Grievances) ~ 1765

  The Declaratory Act ~ 1766

  The Townshend Acts ~ 1767

  The New York Restraining Act ~ 1767

  The Commissioners Of Custom Act ~ 1767

  The Townshend Revenue Act ~ 1767

  The Indemnity Act ~ 1767

  The Vice Admiralty Court Act ~ 1767

  The Tea Act ~ 1773

  The Coercive Acts / Intolerable Acts ~ 1774

  The Boston Port Act ~ 1774

  The Massachusetts Government Act ~ 1774

  The Administration Of Justice Act ~ 1774

  The Quartering Act ~ 1774

  The Quebec Act ~ 1774

  The Suffolk Resolves ~ 1774

  Galloway's Plan Of Union ~ 1774

  The Declaration And Resolves Of The First Continental Congress ~ 1774

  The Association ~ 1774

  Letters From The First Continental Congress ~ 1774

  Address To The People Of Great Britain ~ 1774

  Letter To The Inhabitants Of The British Colonies ~ 1774

  Letter To The Inhabitants Of The Province Of Quebec ~ 1774

  The Address To The King ~ 1774

  The New England Restraining Act ~ 1775

  The Articles Of War ~ Rules & Regulations ~ 1775

  The Declaration On Taking Arms ~ 1775

  Thomas Jefferson's First Draft

  John Dickinson's First Draft

  The Olive Branch Petition ~ 1775

  The Address To The Inhabitants Of Great Britain ~ 1775

  A Proclamation, By The King, For Suppressing Rebellion And Sedition ~ 1775

  A Speech To The Six Confederate Nations ~ 1775

  Franklin's Articles Of Confederation ~ 1775

  Franklin's Short Hints Towards A Scheme For Uniting The Northern Colonies ~ 1754

  The Albany Plan Of Union ~ 1754

  The Address To The Assembly Of Jamaica ~ 1775

  The Address To The People Of Ireland ~ 1775

  Lord North's Conciliatory Resolution ~ 1775

  Report Of The Committee On Trade ~ 1775 (& 1776)

  Rules For The Regulation Of The Navy Of The United Colonies ~ 1775

  Response To The King's Proclamation For Suppressing Rebellion And Sedition ~ 1775

  Mr. Hartley's Motion For Conciliation With America ~ 1775

  The American Prohibitory Act ~ 1775

  The Letter To The Inhabitants Of The Province Of Canada ~ 1776

  Report Of The Committee Of Correspondence Who Conferred With A Gentleman From Canada ~ 1776

  Instructions And Commission To The Commissioners Appointed To Go To Canada ~ 1776

  Address To The Inhabitants Of The Colonies From Their Delegates In Congress ~ 1776

  Resolves Of The Continental Congress Regarding Privateers ~ 1776

  Instructions To The Commanders Of Private Ships Or Vessels Of War ~ 1776

  Resolution For Colonies To Establish Governments ~ 1776

  Animated Address To The Inhabitants Of The Colonies ~ 1776

  The Unanimous Declaration Of The Thirteen United States Of America ~ 1776

  Declaration ~ First Draft ~ 1776

  Declaration ~ Reported Draft ~ 1776

  The Articles Of Confederation And Perpetual Union ~ 1777

  The Articles Of Confederation ~ Initial & Second Drafts ~ 1777

  Address To The Inhabitants Of The United States ~ 1777

  A Speech To The Six Nations ~ 1777

  Treaties Between The United States And France ~ 1778

  Treaty Of Alliance, Eventual And Defensive, Between The United States Of America And His Most Christian Majesty ~ 1778

  Treaty Of Amity And Commerce Between The United States Of America And His Most Christian Majesty ~ 1778

  The Taxation Of Colonies Act ~ 1778

  Treaty Of Fort Pitt / Treaty With The Delawares ~ 1778

  Treaty Of Amity And Commerce Between Their High Mightinesses The States General Of The United Netherlands And The United States Of America ~ 1782

  Convention Between The Lords The States General Of The United Netherlands, And The United States Of America, Concerning Vessels Recaptured ~ 1782

  Provisional Articles Between The United States Of America And His Britannic Majesty ~ 1782

  Treaty Of Amity And Commerce Concluded Between His Majesty The King Of Sweden And The United States Of North-America ~ 1783

  Definitive Treaty Of Peace Between The United States Of America And His Britannic Majesty / The Treaty Of Paris ~ 1783

  A Proclamation Declaring The Cessation Of Arms ~ 1783

  Articles Of A Treaty Concluded At Fort Stanwix Between The United States And The Six Nations ~ 1784

  Articles Of A Treaty Concluded At Fort M'Intosh Between The United States And The Wiandot, Delaware, Chippawa And Ottawa Nations ~ 1785

  Treaty Of Amity And Commerce Between His Majesty The King Of Prussia And The United States Of America ~ 1785

  Articles Of A Treaty Concluded At Hopewell Between The United States And The Cherokees ~ 1785

  Articles Of A Treaty Concluded At Hopewell Between The United States And The Choctaw Nation ~ 1786

  Articles Of A Treaty Concluded At Hopewell Between The United States And The Chickasaws ~ 1786

  Articles Of A Treaty Concluded At The Mouth Of The Great Miami Between The United States And The Shawanoe Nation ~ 1786

  Treaty Of Peace And Friendship Between The United States Of America And His Imperial Majesty The Emporer Of Morocco ~ 1787

  Treaty Of Peace And Friendship Between The United States Of America And The Creek Nation ~ 1787

  The Constitution Of The United States Of America ~ 1787

  George Washington's First Inaugural Address ~ 1789

  The Bill Of Rights ~ 1789