Analyzing Important Documents in US History - The Declaration of Independence (1776) - The US Constitution (1787) - The Star Spangled Banner (1814) - Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address (1861) - The Emancipation Proclamation (1863) SOURCES! By: Jonathan Logli Intended for: Grades (9-12)

The Declaration of Independence Click on the document to read it for yourself! The declaration of Independence is arguably the most important document in the history of the United States. In this document, the 13 colonies declared themselves independent form the British Empire on July 4th, 1776. The document was signed by 56 Americans including two future presidents, three vice presidents, and ten members of the United States Congress. It currently resides in the national Archives in Washington DC. It is kept under thick marble slabs and is lowered 23 feet into a steel and reinforced concrete vault when not on display. There is NO invisible map on the back of the Declaration of Independence, although there is a vague outline of a hand print. The document is made of parchment (treated animal skin). 26 copies exist of the declaration. Three are owned privately, 21 are owned by American institutions and the remaining two copies are owned British institutions.

Click on the document to read it for yourself! The US Constitution Click on the document to read it for yourself! A constitution is the fundamental, underlying framework of government for a nation or state. The constitution has the highest most authority regarding laws. NO other document can overrule or overpower the constitution. Because of this, the constitution is often referred to as the “Supreme Law.” The US constitution was written in 1787 by the “Committee of Five,” which consisted of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. This document includes the establishment of the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government, relations between individual states, and provides the means for amending and ratifying itself.

The Star Spangled Banner Click on the document to read it for yourself! Did you know there is more than one verse of the Star Spangled Banner? The Star Spangled Banner has 4 verses. This song, written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, depicts the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Navy during the War of 1812 as he exited the bunker the next morning. The tune of the Star Spangled Banner is based of a popular British tune written by John Stafford Smith. This poem has since become the United States’ national anthem and is played at nearly every professional sporting event (only the first verse). Only two copies of the Star Spangled Banner exist today.

Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address Click on the document to read it for yourself! Although Lincoln’s first inaugural address may not be as popular as his Gettysburg address, it is arguably the most important speech he has every given. This speech was given on March 4th, 1861. The speech was heard just a month before the civil war had begun. In his speech, President Lincoln was very careful as to not upset the border states. Seven states had already left the union to form the confederacy prior to his first inaugural speech. Four border states would leave at the beginning of the war. Persuading the border states to side with the Union was a crucial aspect in the inevitable war ahead. Lincoln had promised to not interfere with slavery and preserve the union at all costs. He had also promised to “hold, occupy, and possess federal property.” This would become a huge factor when dealing with Fort Sumter, the first battle of the Civil War.

The Emancipation Proclamation Click on the document to read it for yourself! The Emancipation Proclamation is another important document issued by President Lincoln. This document was put into effect on January 1st, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation is often remembered as the document that freed all of the slaves during the Civil War. However, this is not the case. This document was an executive order (not passed by congress) from the president that freed all of the slaves in ONLY the rebellious states. This played greatly to the advantage of the Union because nearly 80% of the slaves resided in the confederate states. The document initially freed 50,000 slaves (most of the confederate states did not comply to the proclamation). The other 2.6 million slaves were freed as the Union swept through the remaining confederate states. This document is an example of Lincoln’s expansion of executive powers and it disregards what he had said in his first inaugural speech.

Citation Page http://www.freedom.org/board/articles/constitution-906.html http://www.ushistory.org/documents/constitution.htm http://www.ushistory.org/documents/banner.htm http://www.ushistory.org/documents/lincoln1.htm http://www.ushistory.org/documents/declaration.htm http://www.ushistory.org/documents/emancipation.htm http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/ http://americanhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/