Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution 
Access: On-Site Access Only
Description: Includes thousands of documents written by members of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Confederation Congress, the thirteen state legislatures that called ratifying conventions, members of those ratifying conventions, and by other contemporaries to trace the Constitution’s progress. The ratification process is followed through writings in contemporary newspapers, books, broadsides, pamphlets, private letters, and the official state records. Also included are numerous constitutional documents predating the ratification process, as well as the documents related to the adoption of the Bill of Rights. The database provides a comprehensive resource on the evolution of American constitutional thought from 1781 to 1791. Documents cover:
- Declaration of Independence
- Articles of Confederation (including Amendments)
- Constitutional Convention
- Resolutions and Draft Constitutions
- Commentaries by Members of Congress on the Proceedings of Congress
- Diary of John Adams
- Papers of Thomas Jefferson
- Diary and Papers of George Washington
- Papers of Dolley Madison
Coverage: 18th Century
Subject(s)
History, Genealogy & Archives
Law
Politics & Government
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