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The
American Colonist's Library
A
Treasury of Primary Documents
Primary
Source Documents Pertaining to Early American
History
An invaluable collection of historical works which
contributed to the formation of American politics,
culture, and ideals
The following is
a massive collection of the literature and
documents which were most relevant to the
colonists' lives in America. If it isn't here, it
probably is not available online anywhere.
This
library is arranged in chronological sequence.
(500 B.C.-1800 A.D.) Use Your Browser's FIND
Function to Search this Library, or click on the
dates below to be taken to that section:
American
Colonists With Royal Ancestries A large
number of American Colonists trace their roots
back to the Kings and Queens of Europe. Here is
a list of some of them.
Classical
Literature Having Significant Influence Upon the
American Colonists
Classic
Philosophers and Poets, Most of the
founding fathers in America were thoroughly
familiar with these Greco-Roman authors: e.g.,
Aristotle, Plato, Cicero, Virgil.
Ancient
and Medieval Classics, The Great Books of
Western Civilization now available online. These
writings provide the European framework of the
cultural backdrop in which America was
established.
The
Latin Library, (Cicero, Livy, Horace, etc.)
Ability to read these sources extemporaneously
was an entrance requirement at colonial schools
such as Harvard.
The
Vulgate, The Holy Bible in Latin.
The
Bible, The best Bible online, which allows
the user to immediately discover the Hebrew and
Greek words behind the English words.
The
Bible, This book was, of course, the most
influential piece of literature in Colonial
America.
St.
Augustine, The church father of choice among
American Puritans.
St.
Augustine, English translations of his works
on predestination which greatly influenced the
Puritans.
Major
Medieval Sources Having Significant Influence
Upon the American Colonists
Ordinance
of William the Conqueror Sowing the seeds of
separation of Church and State in the English
world.
Laws
of William the Conqueror
Constitutions
of Clarendon (1164) Established rights of
laymen and the church in England.
Assize
of Clarendon (1166) Defined rights and
duties of courts and people in criminal cases.
Foundation of the principle of "due
process."
Assize
of Arms (1181) Defined rights and duties of
people and militias.
Magna
Carta (1215) One of the American colonists'
most revered documents, the Magna Carta
established the principle that no one, not even
the king or a lawmaker, is above the law of God.
De
Legibus Et Consuetudinibus Angliæ, Henry de
Bracton (1268) This text was the most important
legal treatise written in England in the
medieval period as it organized, systematized,
and explicated the principles of English Common
Law later embraced by the American colonists.
Summa
Theologica, St. Thomas Aquinas (1265-1273)
Pinnacle of Scholasticism. Covering a wide range
of topics, by the colonial times, most educated
people in the Western world were thoroughly
familiar with this important text.
Marco
Polo's Travels [excerpt] (@1300), the
description of the South Pacific which inspired
Columbus to attempt to go to India by way of the
Atlantic.
The
First Manual of Parliamentary Procedure (@
1350)
An
English Law Library, The sources studied by
many of the lawyers who founded the U.S.
The
Declaration of Arbroath (1320) Scotland's
declaration of independence from England. An
early model for the U.S. Declaration, this
document ends with a phrase parallel to that of
the U.S. Declaration: "and to Him as the
Supreme King and Judge we commit the maintenance
of our cause, casting our cares upon Him and
firmly trusting that He will inspire us with
courage and bring our enemies to nought."
Fifteenth
and Sixteenth Century Sources Profoundly
Impacting the History of America
Malleus
Maleficarum, Directions for witch hunting
(1486)
Journal,
Christopher Columbus, (1492). This document
begins with Columbus' statement that the reason
why Isabella sponsored his voyage was for the
sake of going to India to convert Khan to Roman
Catholicism.
Epistola
De Insulis Nuper Inventis, Christopher
Columbus (1493)
Letter
to the King and Queen of Spain, Christopher
Columbus (1494)
Prince
Henry VII's Commission to John Cabot (1497)
Cabot was the first Englishman to discover New
England.
The
Prince, Machiavelli (1513) Practical advice
on governance and statecraft, with thoughts on
the kinds of problems any government must be
able to solve to endure.
Works
of Martin Luther, The father of the
Protestant Reformation, his principles were a
major part of the American colonists' worldview.
On
Secular Authority, Luther (1523). This
document started the political discussion about
religious liberty which led to the American
Revolution. In this document Luther sets forth
the idea of "two kingdoms," one is
political and the other is spiritual, and the
two ought be separate. President James Madison
commended this "due distinction, to which
the genius and courage of Luther led the way,
between what is due to Caesar and what is due to
God." (Madison
to F.L. Schaeffer, December 3, 1821).
The
Bondage of the Will, Luther (1524). Luther
claimed that this particular document was the
cornerstone of the Protestant Reformation; it
argues the idea of predestination and God's
sovereignty, two principles which were paramount
to many of the American colonists.
The
Act of Supremacy, Henry VIII (1534). By this
act, the English Reformation began, and the pope
was stripped of his jurisdiction over the
English Church. This allowed Lutheran principles
to make their way into the English church, and
led to the birth of Puritanism.
Institutes
of the Christian Religion, John Calvin
(1540). Calvin's magnum opus. The most
celebrated American historian, George Bancroft,
called Calvin "the father of America,"
and added: "He who will not honor the
memory and respect the influence of Calvin knows
but little of the origin of American
liberty." To John Calvin and the Genevan
theologians, President John Adams credited a
great deal of the impetus for religious liberty
(Adams, WORKS, VI:313). This document includes a
justification for rebellion to tyrants by
subordinate government officials; this
particular justification was at the root of the
Dutch, English, and American Revolutions.
The
Journey of Alvar Nuñez Cabeza De Vaca
(1542)
Brief
Account of the Devastation of the Indies,
Bartolome de la Casas (1542)
On
the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies,
Copernicus (1543). This document touched off the
Scientific Revolution as it repudiated the
Geocentric theory and asserted a Heliocentric
theory of the solar system.
The
Council of Trent (1545) The Roman Catholic
responses to the Protestant Reformation.
Spiritual
Exercises, Ignatius Loyola (1548). Rules for
the Jesuits written by the founder of the Jesuit
Order.
The
Genevan Book of Order (1556) The Form of
Prayers and Ministration of the Sacraments, etc.
Used in the English Congregation at Geneva
A
Short Treatise on Political Power, John
Ponet, D.D. (1556) President John Adams credited
this Calvinist document as being at
the root of the theory of government adopted by
the the Americans. According to Adams, Ponet's
work contained "all the essential
principles of liberty, which were afterward
dilated on by Sidney and Locke" including
the idea of a three-branched government. (Adams,
Works, vol. 6, pg. 4). Published in
Strassbourg in 1556, it is one of the first
works out of the Reformation to advocate active
resistance to tyrannical magistrates, with the
exception of the Magdeburg Bekkentis (the
Magdeburg Confession).
How
Superior Powers Ought to Be Obeyed by Their
Subjects, Christopher Goodman (1558).
Justifying a Christian's right to resist a
tyrannical ruler. Goodman indicated that he had
presented the thesis of this book to John
Calvin, and Calvin endorsed it.
The
First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous
Regiment of Women, John Knox (1558). A
vigorous critique of the tyranny of "Bloody
Mary's" reign in England, and a call to
resist. A large portion of the Americans who
fought in the American Revolution were adherents
to Knox's doctrines as set forth in this
document.
Act
of Supremacy, Elizabeth I (1559). After the
brief and bloody reign of her sister, Mary I,
who executed numerous Protestants for the cause
of Roman Catholicism, this document states
Elizabeth's intention to reaffirm the English
Church's independence from Rome. Her beloved
status among her subjects caused the first
settlers of America to name their colony
"Virginia" in honor of this virgin
queen.
Complete
Works of Elizabeth I, Including her letters
and her poems.
Writings
and Speeches of Elizabeth I
Foxe's
Book of Martyrs (1563). Detailing the bloody
persecutions of Puritans during the reign of
Mary I, this book was second only to the Bible
in its popularity in the American colonies.
Supralapsarian
Calvinism, Theodore Beza (1570) Laying out
the principle that God willed and predestined
the fall of Adam and the existence of sin and
evil. This assertion became the most
controversial philosophical conflict among
American colonists up through the 19th century.
The
Scholemaster (1570) Philosophy of Education
among English people, particularly with respect
to the importance of learning Latin.
The
Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571) The
official statement of faith of the Church of
England; this document formally adopts the
Calvinistic doctrine of predestination and
repudiates common notion of "free
will."
Treasons
Act (1571) Forbidding criticism of
Queen Elizabeth.
The
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572)
The
Right of Magistrates Over Their Subjects,
Theodore Beza (1574). Expanding upon Calvin's
political resistance theory set forth in the
final chapters of his Institutes, this work by
Calvin's successor in Geneva, Theodore Beza, was
published in response to the growing tensions
between Protestant and Catholic in France, which
culminated in the St. Bartholomew Day Massacre
in 1572. This text suggests that it is the right
of a Christian to revolt against a tyrannical
King: a principle central to the American
colonists' cause.
Of
the Tabaco and of His Greate Vertues,
Nicholas Monardes (1577)
The
Works of Sir Walter Raleigh, Sponsor of the
First Settlements in Virginia
De
Jure Regni apud Scotos, George Buchanan
(1579) Considered the most important piece of
political writing in the 16th century as it
articulated the doctrine of "the rule of
law."
Vindiciae
Contra Tyrannos, or, A Vindication Against
Tyrants (1579). This Calvinist document is one
of the first to set forth the theory of
"social contract" upon which the
United States was founded. The idea was
disseminated through the English Calvinists to
the pen of John Locke, and eventually into the
Declaration of Independence. John Adams reported
the relevance of this document to the American
struggle.
The
Dutch Declaration of Independence (1581);
This Calvinistic document served as a model for
the U.S. Declaration of Independence. In his
Autobiography, Jefferson indicated that the
"Dutch Revolution" gave evidence and
confidence to the Second Continental Congress
that the American Revolution could likewise
commence and succeed. Recent scholarship
has has suggested that Jefferson may have
consciously drawn on this document. John Adams
said that the Dutch charters had "been
particularly studied, admired, and imitated in
every State" in America, and he stated that
"the analogy between the means by which the
two republics [Holland and U.S.A.] arrived at
independency... will infallibly draw them
together."
A
Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of
Virginia, Thomas Hariot.
Discourse
of Western Planting, Richard Hakluyt, (1584)
First
Voyage To Virginia, Arthur Barlowe (1584)
Adam
Winthrop's Commonplace Book (1586) Early
diary of a Puritan whose family eventually
settled in America.
The
Colony of Roanoke, Ralph Lane (1586). The
first English attempt at colonizing the New
World
Return
To Roanoake, John White (1590) Relating the
surprise of the loss of the Roanoake colony and
the few clues left regarding their fate.
An
Act Against Papists (1593) Parliament's
tough words against those who would attempt to
depose Elizabeth for her Protestantism.
Works
of Richard Hooker (1593) Anglican political
commentator and major influence upon John Locke.
A
Trew Law of Free Monarchs, James I Stuart
(1598). Championed the doctrine of "Divine
Right of Kings." This oppressive political
theory contributed to the exodus of the Puritans
to America in 1630, and resistance to it was the
ultimate goal of three revolutions: 1) the
Puritan Revolution of the 1640s, 2) the Glorious
Revolution, and 3) the American Revolution.
The
Dutie of A King, Sir Walter Raleigh (1599)
Promoting the doctrine of "Divine Right of
Kings."
The
Geneva Bible, 1599 update of the translation
made by the Puritans in Geneva 1560. This was
the Bible of choice in New England. These are
the footnotes which provide a Calvinistic
theological interpretation of the Bible
Seventeenth
Century Sources Relating to American History
Colonial
Maps
Charters
of all the Colonies
Original
Dictionaries of the 16th & 17th Centuries,
six bilingual dictionaries -- John Palsgrave
(1530; English-French), Sir Thomas Elyot (1538;
Latin- English), William Thomas (1550;
Italian-English), Thomas Thomas (1587;
Latin-English), John Florio (1598;
Italian-English), and Randle Cotgrave (1611;
French-English) -- these give pairs of French,
Italian, and Latin dictionaries, each pair
separated by 50-80 years; four English hard-word
dictionaries -- Edmund Coote (1596), Robert
Cawdrey (1604; courtesy of Raymond Siemens),
John Bullokar (1616), and Henry Cockeram (1623)
-- and one English word-list by Richard
Mulcaster (1582); the first full English-only
dictionary -- Thomas Blount (1656).
Queen
Elizabeth's Farewell (1601)
The
Works of King James I
Voyages,
Samuel de Champlain (1604)
Primary
Sources Pertaining to the Gunpowder Plot
(1605)
The
First Virginia Charter (1606)
Instructions
for the Virginia Colony (1606)
Works
of Francis Bacon, Identified by Jefferson as
one of his three most profound influences.
Works
of Shakespeare
The
Settlement at Jamestown, John Smith (1607)
Including the famous account of Smith being
saved by Pocahontas.
The
Foundation of Quebec, Samuel de Champlain
(1608)
Full
Text of Robert Juet's Journal (1609)
The
Second Virginia Charter (1609)
John
Smyth's Confession (1609) the religion of a
Baptist.
The
Church At Jamestown, William Strachey (1610)
The
Third Virginia Charter (1612)
Good
News From Virginia, Alexander Whitaker
(1613)
An
Ordinance and Constitution of the Virginia
Company in England for a Council
Pocahontas,
John Smith (1616)
The
Starving Time, John Smith.
Laws
of Virginia (1610)
Pory
to Carelton from Jamestown (1619)
Laws
in Virginia (1619)
Jamestown
Laws
Indentured
Servant's Contract (1619)
Works
of Arminius Arminius was a Dutchman who
dared to challenge Luther and Calvin on the
predestination issue. His writings led to a
major controversy in Holland while the
"Pilgrims" were residing there.
Arminius's views were adopted by Archbishop Laud
of England, which greatly contributed to the
English Calvinists' desire to leave England in
1630.
Canons
of Dort (1619). The Synod at Dort in the
Netherlands was called to respond to the views
of the Arminians. Participating in this Synod
moderated by Gomarus was the leader of the
Pilgrims, as well as William Ames (the leading
Puritan theologian of the day). As a result of
this synod, the "five points of
Calvinism" were developed. The "five
points," also called TULIP, became a
centerpiece of Puritanism and were ardently
defended by American Calvinists such as Jonathan
Edwards. The conflict between Calvinists and
Arminians was perhaps the most explosive debate
in America in the early 18th century. On the
Calvinist side, Americans such as Benjamin
Franklin and Jonathan Edwards wrote
philosophical defenses; on the Arminian side,
John Wesley was the premiere mouthpiece. While
Madison wrote in defense of Calvinism, Thomas
Jefferson utterly repudiated it.
Charter
of New England (1620)
Mayflower
Compact (1620). The first political covenant
of the New England migration.
Of
State and General Assembly, 24 July 1621.
Of
Plymouth Plantation (Written 1630-1654,
first published 1854). This is Governor William
Bradford's history of Plymouth, the most
comprehensive primary source available on early
Plymouth.
Of
Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford. An
eyewitness history of the first English settlers
of New England.
Mourt's
Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth.
(London, 1622). This journal, written by several
Pilgrims--namely William Bradford and Edward
Winslow--records events at Plymouth from the
Mayflower's arrival in November 1620 through the
First Thanksgiving in October 1621, and
everything in between.
The
Sin and Danger of Self-Love (1621) There
were no clergymen among the pilgrims at Plymouth
when they first settled. This sermon was written
and given by a layman, Robert Cushman, to the
Plymouth congregation in December 1621. Robert
Cushman was a member of the Pilgrims church in
Leyden, Holland, and came on (and returned in)
the ship Fortune.
Letters
of the Plymouth Settlers
Letter
of an Indentured Servant (1623)
Last
Wills and Testaments of the Settlers at Plymouth
We can tell a lot about a culture by looking at
their wills.
Good
Newes from New England (London, 1624). This
book, authored by Edward Winslow, continues the
journal in Mourt's Relation, covering the years
1622 and 1623 at Plymouth.
An
Appeal for War Against Spain (1624)
Of
the Law of War and Peace, Hugo Grotius
(1625, Latin) One of the first works on
international law.
Account
of the Purchase of Manhattan (1626) The
source of the $24 dollar legend.
The
First Part of the Institutes of the Laws of
England, Sir Edward Coke (1628) Written by a
Puritan leader of Parliament, this document was
almost the only textbook for lawyers (e.g.,
Jefferson) during the American Colonial Period.
Coke's influence over the minds of American
politicians is inestimable. Clear traces between
Coke and the U.S. Constitution are apparent in
this work.
The
Petition of Right, Sir Edward Coke (1628).
This document set forth complaints of the
members of Parliament to King Charles I
regarding rights of due process. Charles did not
receive this complaint warmly. As a result,
Charles I shut down Parliament, which ultimately
culminated in the English Civil War, and
contributed to the exodus of 20,000 Puritans to
New England.
Protests
of the House of Commons, Documents showing
the growth of Parliament's hatred for King
Charles I, first complaining against his closet
Catholicism, his Arminianism, and his
presumptuousness in levying taxes without the
consent of Parliament.
Experiencia,
John Winthrop. A Journal of Religious
Experiences.
The
Salem Covenant (1629)
Charter
of Massachusetts Bay (1629). This document
sets forth the Puritans' commission in New
England.
The
Library of John Winthrop's Father, A
catalogue of the books available for the Puritan
Laywer who founded Boston.
Pratt's
Memoir of the Wessagussett Plantation,
(1622/23)
Reasons
for the Plantation in New England (circa 1628).
This document states clearly and forcefully that
the motivations of the Puritans who came to New
England @ 1630 were fundamentally religious.
Adventurers
who founded the Massachusetts Bay Commonwealth
(1628-1630)
Savage's
Genealogical Dictionary of New England This
comprehensive source lists the entire families
who lived in New England in the early 17the
century.
A
Short and True Description of New England,
by the Rev. Francis Higginson (1629)
The
Cambridge Agreement among the leaders of the
settlement (1629)
History
of the First Settlements as told by Capt.
John Smith, Admiral of New England (1629)
The
Constitution of the Governor and Company of
the Massachusetts Bay (1629)
Medulla
Theologica (The Marrow of Theology), William
Ames (1629). The Medulla was the principal
required textbook in the Ivy League in the
American Colonial Period. One cannot adequately
grasp the intellectual climate of New England
without understanding the concepts in this book.
The following two sections on the Decrees of God
and Predestination highlight the central
peculiarities of Puritan theology. Ames was
unequivocal in stating that God controls the
universe and that humans do not
"change" or "determine"
God's behavior in any way.
The
Marrow of Theology, William Ames (1629),
Excerpts.
A
Model of Christian Charity by John Winthrop
(1630). A sermon preached aboard one of the
ships carrying the Puritans to New England.
The
Boston Covenant (1630)
The
Watertown Covenant (1630)
The
Humble Request of the Puritan emigrants
(1630)
The
Oath of a Freeman, including a list of men
who took this oath (1630-36)
Advertisements
to Planters of New England, by Capt. John
Smith (1631)
Advertisements,
continued, by Capt. John Smith (1631)
Letter
to William Pond (1631)
The
Indictment of Galileo (1633) The height of
the conflict between religion and science.
The
Glorious Work in Maryland, Andrew White, S.J.
(1633)
Account
of A Maryland Jesuit (1634)
Excerpts
From Lion Gardiner's Journal (1635)
The
Constitution of Plymouth Colony (1636)
The
Salem Covenant (1636)
The
Dedham Covenant (1636)
Winthrop's
Testimony (1636), the Boston Governor's
account of his Christian experience.
John
Cotton Condemns Democracy (1636)
Transcript
of The Trial of Anne Hutchinson (1636)
Revels
in New Canaan, Thomas Morton (1637)
Description
of Indians, Thomas Morton (1637)
Essay
Against the Power of the Church To Sit in
Judgement on the Civil Magistracy, John
Winthrop, Esq. (1637) A treatise indicating an
early desire among the Puritans to keep church
and state separate.
Officers
of the Commonwealth from 1630 to 1686.
Freemen
of the Commonwealth: the complete rolls from
1630 to 1636.
Sermons
of Thomas Shephard
Letter
of Thomas Shephard to his son at Harvard College
Residents
of New Towne, (later called Cambridge) from
the original town Court records, 1632-1635,
alphabetized.
The
Memoir of Capt. Roger Clapp (1609 -1691)
Events in Massachusetts Bay Colony to about the
year 1640.
The
National Covenant (1639) Scotland's
declaration of resistance to Charles I.
Fundamental
Orders of Connecticut (1639) Acknowledged by
scholars to be a prototype of the U.S.
constitution.
The
New Hampshire Compact (1639)
The
Exeter Covenant (1639)
Description
of New England Indians, William Wood (1639)
John
Winthrop's Journal, John Winthrop
(excerpts), Tremendous and valuable insights
into the mind of the Puritan leader.
The
Wicked Capitalism of Robert Keayne, John
Winthrop (1639) A merchant named Robert Keayne
was practicing capitalistic economics in Boston
and was squarely rebuked for it by John Cotton
and Governor Winthrop.
Laws
Regulating the Price of Tobacco in Virginia
(1639-40)
A
Brief Discourse Concerning the Power of Peers,
John Selden (1640)
The
First Constitution of Rhode Island (1640) A
document guaranteeing liberty of conscience.
The
Bay Psalm Book (1640) With an Introduction
written by Richard Mather.
New
England's First Fruits, The first written
history regarding the founding of Harvard
College (@1640)
Court
Records of Springfield, Massachusetts,
Including information about crimes and
punishments.
Massachusetts
Body of Liberties (1641) Early written
expression of the liberties asserted by the
colonists in reaction to the oppressions of
European governments.
The
Citizen, Thomas Hobbes (1641-47) Discussion
of the natural law foundations of government.
Protestation
(1641) An oath taken by British citizens loyal
to the Puritan interests in Parliament.
Declaration
to Justify Their Proceedings and Resolutions to
Take Up Arms (1642) Thomas Jefferson, in his
Autobiography,said that this Puritan
"precedent" was an inspiration to the
American cause.
The
True Constitution of a Particular Visible Church,
by John Cotton (1642)
Massachusetts
Bay School Laws (1642) Requiring that every
father teach his children the Catechism; if not,
the children shall be taken from the home.
Harvard
College Admission and Graduation Requirements
(1642-1700)
Jesuit
Encounters With the Indians (1642-43)
The
Establishment of the United Colonies of New
England (1643) The first attempt at a union
of colonies, foreshadowing the United States.
This document combines several colonies together
for the primary purpose of national defense.
This is the first document resembling a federal
constitution in America.
Religio
Medici, Thomas Browne (1643) The Religion of
a Physician; showing the link between religion
and Enlightenment science in the 17th century.
The
Bloody Tenet of Persecution for the Cause of
Conscience, Roger Williams
A
Plea for Religious Liberty, Roger Williams
(1644) Early expression of the principle of
religious tolerance by the founder of the colony
of Rhode Island.
The
Solemn League and Covenant (1643-44) The
document which allied the Scotch Presbyterians
and the Puritans in their struggle against
Charles I.
First-Hand
Military Accounts of the English Civil War
Lex
Rex, Samuel Rutherford (1644). This treatise
systematized the Calvinistic political theories
which had developed over the previous century.
Rutherford was a colleague of John Locke's
parents. Most of John Locke's Second Treatise
on Government is reflective of Lex Rex.
From Rutherford and other Commonwealthmen such
as George Lawson, through Locke, these theorists
provided the roots of the Declaration of
Independence. This page provides the list of
questions Lex Rexaddresses.
Lex,
Rex, Samuel Rutherford (1644). This excerpt
shows Rutherford's social contract theory and
includes the Puritan theory of resistance to a
tyrant.
Areopagitica,
John Milton (1644). A treatise arguing that true
Christianity can win its own arguments, and does
not need to worry about challenges from other
points of view, and therefore, the Government
should not prevent the publication of any ideas.
This idea was later articulated by Locke in his
Letters Concerning Toleration, and picked up by
Madison and Jefferson in their establishment of
religious liberty in the U.S.
A
Description of New Amsterdam by Isaac Joques
(1644)
Description
of the Iroquois, Rev. John Megapolensis
(1644)
Massachusetts
Government Vindicated, John Winthrop (1644)
On
Liberty, John Winthrop (1645) Discusses
liberties demanded by the colonists.
Hypocricie
Unmasked (London, 1646). This is a religious
treatise written by Edward Winslow.
The
Character of A Puritan, John Geree (1646)
The
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) In
addition to being the decree of Parliament as
the standard for Christian doctrine in the
British Kingdom, it was adopted as the official
statement of belief for the colonies of
Massachusetts and Connecticut. Although slightly
altered and called by different names, it was
the creed of Congregationalist, Baptist, and
Presbyterian Churches throughout the English
speaking world. Assent to the Westminster
Confession was officially required at Harvard,
Yale, and Princeton. Princeton scholar, Benjamin
Warfield wrote: "It was impossible for any
body of Christians in the [English] Kingdoms to
avoid attending to it."
The
Westminster Catechism (1646) Second only to
the Bible, the "Shorter Catechism" of
the Westminster Confession was the most widely
published piece of literature in the
pre-revolutionary era in America. It is
estimated that some five million copies were
available in the colonies. With a total
population of only four million people in
America at the time of the Revolution, the
number is staggering. The Westminster Catechism
was not only a central part of the colonial
educational curriculum, learning it was required
by law. Each town employed an officer whose duty
was to visit homes to hear the children recite
the Catechism. The primary schoolbook for
children, the New England Primer, included the
Catechism. Daily recitations of it were required
at these schools. Their curriculum included
memorization of the Westminster Confession and
the Westminster Larger Catechism. There was not
a person at Independence Hall in 1776 who had
not been exposed to it, and most of them had it
spoon fed to them before they could walk.
A
Petition to Establish the Laws of England in
America (1646)
New
England's Salamander Discovered (London,
1647). This is another religious treatise
written by Edward Winslow.
The
Old Deluder Act (1647)
The
Simple Cobbler of Aggawamm in America,
Nathaniel Ward (1647).
An
Agreement of the People (1647) A proposal
for a republican government in England.
The
Laws of Massachusetts (1648)
The
Treaty of Westphalia (1648) An attempt at
religious peace in Europe.
Blue
Laws, New Haven
The
Original Indian Deed for East-Hampton (1648)
The
Cambridge Platform (1649)
The
Maryland Toleration Act (1649)
King
Charles I's Speech at His Trial (1649);
Including Judge Bradshaw's response appealing to
social contract theory.
The
Execution of Charles I Stuart (1649)
King
Charles I's Speech Just Before His Execution
(1649)
Of
the Non-Compelling of Heathens, Samuel
Rutherford (1649) Exploring the extent to which
a government can coerce religious conformity.
An
Agreement of the Free People of England
(1649) The manifesto of the Levellers, the
leaders of the 1649 English Civil War that
deposed Charles I and brought a period of
parliamentary rule. It expresses many of the
ideals that later inspired the American
Revolution.
The
Tenure of Kings and Magistrates (1650) by
John Milton in defense of the execution of
Charles I by the British Parliament a few days
after its occurence. It includes an excellent
evaluation and summation of the political
literature produced on the Continent in the 16th
Century. Charles I was the first monarch
executed in Europe by his subjects, setting the
stage for a religious struggle which would grip
Britain for several decades to come. The
language and spelling of this edition has been
done directly from the 1650 edition.
Leviathan,
Thomas Hobbes (1651) Laid basis for social
contract theory, providing branching point for
the theories of constitutionalism and fascism.
Salem
Residents,
to the year 1651
The
Gospel Covenant, Rev. Peter Bulkely (1651)
Sumptuary
Laws in New England (1651) Laws regarding
what one may and may not wear.
The
Deed Assignment to the Inhabitants of
East-Hampton (1651)
The
Instrument of Government, 1653; The
Constitution of the English Commonwealth under
Oliver Cromwell. Many of the founders, such as
Samuel Adams, considered Oliver Cromwell their
hero, and considered the Commonwealth as the
glory years of England.
Healing
Question, Sir Henry Vane, 1656, published
the following tract, expounding the principles
of civil and religious liberty, and proposed
that method of forming a constitution, through a
convention called for the purpose, which was
actually followed in America after the
Revolution.
The
Commonwealth of Oceana, James Harrington
(1656) Outline of a plan for republican
government.
The
Flushing Remonstrance (1657) Proclamation
granting liberty to "Jews, Muslims, and
Quakers" on Long Island, New York, on the
grounds of New Testament graciousness. Extremely
progressive for the American colonies.
Goody
Garlick Testimony in Witchcraft Trial (1657)
Forward
to the Revision of the New Plymouth Laws
(1658)
A
Treatise of Civil Power in Ecclesiastical
Causes; Showing That it Is Not Lawful For Any
Power on Earth to Compel in Matters of Religion,
John Milton (1659). A formative influence upon
the ideals of religious toleration adopted by
John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.
The
Declaration of Breda, King Charles II Stuart
(1660), As the Stuart King was to be restored to
the throne after the end of the reign of the
Puritan Protectorates, one of his first
decisions was to attempt to avoid another
religious war, by granting religious liberty to
"tender consciences," so long as they
did not disturb the peace.
The
Restoration of Charles II to the Throne of
England (1660); A Declaration of Both Houses
of Parliament.
Excerpts
from the Navigation Acts, 1660-1696, The
first Parliamentary legislation toward the
colonies which would lead to the colonial
rebellion of the eighteenth century.
Institutes
of Elenctic Theology, [excerpt on
predestination] Francis Turretin (1660) The
principle textbook used by students in American
colleges in the 18th century (used at Princeton
into the late 19th century).
Institutes
of Elenctic Theology, Francis Turretin
(1660). Excerpts.
Narrative
of the Pequot War, Lion Gardiner (1660)
Narrative
of the Pequot War, John Mason
The
Status of Religion in Virginia (1661)
Court
Records Dealing with Runaway Slaves in Virginia
Virginia
Fornication Laws
The
Book of Common Prayer (1662) As the
Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell came to an end
and Charles II was restored to the throne of
England, the Church of England once again
introduced a new Book of Common Prayer. This was
the guiding document for many throughout the
American colonies, particularly in Virginia
The
Anglican Catechism (1662) The document which
provided the religious training for many of the
founding fathers of the U.S. (e.g., Washington,
Madison, Henry, Wythe, Mason).
Connecticut
Colony Charter (1662)
Deposition
of Phineas Pratt (1662) Recounting the
settlement at Plymouth
The
Day of Doom and other Poems, Michael
Wigglesworth (1662)
Death
Penalties in Maryland (1664)
Fines
and Punishments in Massachusetts (1664-1682)
Witchcraft
Trials in New York (1665)
Excerpts
From The Duke of York's Laws (1665-75)
A
Description of Carolina, Robert Horne (1666)
The
Nicolls Patent (1666)
Paradise
Lost, John Milton (1667)
Fundamental
Constitutions of Carolina, John Locke (1669)
Theologico-Political
Treatise, Baruch de Spinoza (1670) Discussed
the ultimate source of legitimate political
power.
Groton
in Witchcraft Times, Samuel Green, ed.
(c.1671)
De
Jure Naturae, Samuel Puffendorf (1672, tr.
Basil Kennett 1703)
De
Officio Hominis Et Civis Juxta Legem Naturalem
Libri Duo, Samuel Pufendorf (1673). The
political theorist of choice among American
Puritans in the early 18th century.
Works
of John Bunyan, According to Ben Franklin's
Autobiography, Bunyan was his "favorite
author."
Barclay's
Apology, Robert Barclay (1675). A Quaker
treatise later used in favor of American
Independence.
First
Thanksgiving Proclamation (1676)
A
Compleat Body of Divinity, Samuel Willard.
The primary textbook used at Harvard College.
The
New England Primer, The best-selling
textbook used by children in the colonial
period. Millions of copies were in print. Filled
with Calvinist principles, the influence of this
little document is inestimable.
Memoir...
Dangers That Threaten Canada and the Means to
Remedy Them, January 1687
Bacon's
Declaration in the Name of the People, 30
July 1676
On
Bacon's Rebellion, Governor William Berkely,
19 May 1676
The
Captivity of Mary Rowlandson (1676)
Political
Treatise, Baruch de Spinoza (1677)
Constitutional considerations of various forms
of government, including ideas that later
influenced the Founders.
Anne
Bradstreet's Poetry (1678)
Poems
for Her Husband, Anne Bradstreet (1678)
Edward
Taylor's Poems
Habeas
Corpus Act (1679) English Parliament
established key right which was embraced in
America.
Findings
of the New England Synod (1679), a
"Jeremiad."
Patriarcha,
Robert Filmer. A treatise defending the
"divine right of Kings." This was the
document which Locke and Sydney both had in mind
as they wrote their political tracts which
formed the American founders' political theory.
Although this was written around 1640 in defense
of Charles I's divine right, it was not
published until 1680.
Bill
to Exclude the Duke of York (1680), Attempts
by the Whig Party to keep James II off the
throne.
Proposals
for the Carrying on the Negro's Christianity,
Morgan Goodwyn (1681).
Plato
Redivivus, Henry Neville (1681)
Frame
of Government of Pennsylvania, William Penn
(1682) Early model for written constitutions.
Some
Fruits of Solitude In Reflections And Maxims,
William Penn (1682)
William
Penn to His Family (1682)
Petition
for a Democratic Government (1682)
Condemnation
of the Massachussetts Bay Company, Edward
Randolph, 12 June 1683
The
Original Constitution of New York (1683)
Causes
of King Phillip's War, Edward Randolph
(1685)
Instructions
to Sir Edmund Andros (1686)
Charter
of East Hampton (1686)
Commercial
Orders to Governor Andros (1686-1687)
Principia,
Isaac Newton (1687) One of the three most
significant influences upon Jefferson.
On
the Duty of Man and Citizen According to Natural
Law, Samuel Pufendorf (1688) Based law and
right on natural law.
James
II Creates the Dominion of New England,
April 7, 1688
Parliament
Invites William of Orange to England (1688)
Declaration
of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal (1688)
Parliament pledges its loyalty to William and
Mary.
The
Full Text of Huntington's Declaration of Rights
Orders
For Sending Sir Edmund Andros To England
(1689)
The
King's Oath (1689) Established the
requirement that the monarch uphold "the
Protestant reformed religion"
English
Bill of Rights (1689) Early model for
recognizing natural rights in writing. Much of
its language appeared later in the Declaration
of Independence and U.S. Constitution.
Second
Treatise on Government John Locke (1689)
Principal proponent of the social contract
theory which forms the basis for modern
constitutional republican government.
A
Letter Concerning Toleration, John Locke
(1689) Classic statement of the case for
toleration of those holding different views.
The
Reasonableness of Christianity, John Locke.
Toleration
Act of William and Mary (1689)
The
Boston Uprising, Samuel Prince (1689)
The
London Confession of Faith (1689) Drawn from
the Westminster Confession, this document set
for the beliefs of English Baptists during this
era.
The
Re-Establishment of the Presbyterian Church in
Scotland (1690)
Memorable
Providences, Relating to Witchcrafts and
Possessions, Cotton Mather (1698)
Discourses
Concerning Government, Table of Contents.
Algernon Sidney (1698) Built principles of
popular government from foundation of natural
law and the social contract. This book has been
considered by scholars the "textbook of the
American Revolution."
Discourses
Concerning Government, Algernon Sidney,
excerpts.
Journal
of George Fox, Founder of the Quakers.
Transcripts
of the Salem Witch Trials (1692) This is one
of the web's best and most complete primary
source documents, containing all of the court
records of the Salem Witch trials. An invaluable
resource.
Salem
Witch Trials: Other Primary Sources
The
Confession of Anne Foster at Salem (1692)
Wonders
of the Invisible World (excerpts), Cotton
Mather (1693)
Cases
of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits,
Increase Mather (1693)
The
Character of a Good Ruler, Samuel Willard
(1694)
Penn's
Plan for a Union (1697)
Judge
Samuel Sewall Repents His Participation in the
Salem Witch Trials (1697)
The
Story of Squanto, Cotton Mather (1698)
The
Execution of Hugh Stone, Cotton Mather
(1698)
An
Account of West Jersey and Pennsylvania,
Gabriel Thomas (1698)
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