Founders Library
Major Works
Democracy In America, by Alexis de Tocqueville: 1831 (expanding regularly)
Madison’s Notes: The Federal Convention of 1787 (Complete)
The Federalist Papers (Complete)
The Anti-Federalist Papers (Complete)
Defense of the Constitutions of the United States by John Adams (expanding regularly)
Novanglus Essays by John Adams (Complete)
Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States by Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story (expanding regularly)
The Works of John Adams (expanding regularly)
Early American Thought: Letters, Speeches, Quotes
John Adams
Constituting the Best of Governments: 1776
On the Importance of Innocence
Property Sacred as the Laws of God
An Obligation That Never Ceases
What Was the Revolution? 1818
Samuel Adams
The Truest Friends of Liberty and Country: 1748
Preserving Morals, Property, and Right: 1764
The Basis of Public Happiness: 1764
On the Right to Trial By Jury: 1764
Samuel Adams to the Sons of Liberty: Repeal of the Stamp Act
On Just Opposition to Law: 1766
Nothing Can Deter Us From Asserting Our Rights: 1766
Unbridled Executive Power: The Ruin of Free Constitutions: 1771
Remonstrance Against The Least Infringement Upon Our Rights: 1771
Liberties Worth Defending at All Hazards: 1771
Rights of the Colonists: 1772
Right to Life, Liberty, Property Under God: 20 Nov 1782
If Ye Love Wealth Better Than Liberty: 1776
On American Independence: 1776
Recurrence to First Principles: 1781
Fisher Ames
The French Revolution, Socialism, and Poverty
William Blackstone (strongly influenced post-1789 legal thought)
The Third Absolute Right
Edmund Burke (British Statesmen)
The Influence of Religion on the Fierce Spirit of American Liberty: 1775
John Dickinson
Look Unto God, Not the Charter for Our Rights
Benjamin Franklin
Albany Plan for Union: 1754
A Plan for Colonial Union: 1754/66
Imitators v. Counterfeiters
On the Need for Unity: July 4th 1776
On Safety
Dangers of a Salaried Executive Branch: 1787
On the Federal Constitution
An Account of the Supremest Court of Judicature in Penn, Viz. The Court of the Press: 1789
Thomas Jefferson
Slavery and Secession: Treason Against the Hopes of the World (1820 re: Missouri Compromise)
One Hundred and Seventy-Three Despots
Suggestions on Improving the Union: Dec. 1786
Bankers More Dangerous Than Armies 1816
First Inaugural Address
Second Inaugural Address
Almighty God Hath Created the Mind Free
Preserving the Spirit of Resistance
Two Measures If Not Taken We Are Undone
Happiness From Power Over Others?
The Monroe Doctrine and Foreign Policy: 1823
Alexander Hamilton
Anarchy Is Not the State of Nature: 1775
On the Disastrous Inefficiencies of the Confederation: 1778
Call for a New Confederation Under a New Constitution: 1780
On the Need for Wise Encouragements and Restraints: 1782
Consumption Taxes Best for America: 1787
Unseating the Mistress of the World: 1787
Neutrality: A Privilege of the Strong: 1787
On the Adoption of the New Constitution, 1788
Patrick Henry
There is a Just God Who Presides
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
Virginia Resolves on the Stamp Act
John Jay
John Jay on the Bible: The Best of Books
Abraham Lincoln
Eulogy on Henry Clay: July 6, 1852 (Lincoln via Clay’s life explains his position on slavery) Intro Steve Farrell
Honest Abe: 1836
The Political Religion of the Nation: 1838
Lyceum Address: 1838, with brief Into by Steve Farrell
My Proudest Plume: 1839
The Case Against Slavery: Lincoln To The Kentuckians, 1859
Dare to Do Our Duty: 1860
First Inaugural Address: A Plea for Union: March 4, 1861
Message to Congress in Special Session: July 4, 1861
Gettysburg Address: 1863
More Harm Than Good: 1864
The Natural Condition of the Human Race
John Locke
A Letter Concerning Toleration
State of War and the Right to Self Defense: 1690
On the Purpose and Limits of Political Power: 1690
Reason and Revelation vs. Legalized Suicide: 1690
An Eternal Rule to All Men: 1690
Majority Rule, Compact, and Lawful Government: 1690
On the Ultimate Aim of Usurpers: 1690
State of Liberty, Not a State of License: 1690
Where There is No Law, There is No Liberty: 1690
Usurpation and Tyranny Defined: 1690
Princes of the World Cannot Bring Men to Heaven: 1689
Liberties and the Limits of Civil Magistrates on Religion: 1689
Conversion Comes Not By Fire and the Sword: 1689
Advancing the Kingdom of God or Another Kingdom: 1689
Mutual Toleration and True Religion: 1689
James Madison
On the Need for a More Perfect Union: 1786
On the Commerce Clause
On a Just Partition of Power
On a Well Regulated Militia
The Very Definition of Tyranny
Prudent Jealousy: The First Duty of Citizens: 1785
Never was an Assembly of Men More Pure in Their Motives: 1787
Gradual and Silent Encroachments: 1787
Limits on Treaty Making Power: 1787
Summarizing the Constitution, Letter to Jefferson, 24 Oct 1787
If Men Were Angels: 1788
Impossible Not to Perceive the Finger of That Almighty Hand: 11 January 1788
War and the Degeneracy of Morals, Manners, and Liberty
James Otis
The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved: 1764
Thomas Paine
Letter on the Female Sex 1775
Liberty, Hard Work and Blessings (Excerpt from The Crisis)
The American Crisis (Complete)
A Precedent That Will Reach to Himself
On Being Temperate and Moderate
William Pinkney
For the Relief of Slaves, 1788: Brief intro by Steve Farrell
Alexis de Tocqueville
Europe Must Look to God, Moral Refinement, and a New Political Science to Guide Democratic Impulse: 1835
The New Despotism: 1840
George Washington
On Being Appointed Commander In Chief: 1775
On Christian Soldiery 1776
Resolve to Conquer or Die: 1776
Enslaved or Free: 1776
On Paper Money
On the Debt of Gratitude We Owe to God, Excerpt from Farewell Address
On Representation: National, State, Local; 1786
The Need for and Key to Enlightened Public Opinion: 1796
First Inaugural Address
Farewell Address, full text, with summary by Steve Farrell
Union: A Main Prop of Liberty, 1796
Daniel Webster
The First Pillar in the Temple of Republicanism: 5 July 1802
Other Misfortunes May Be Borne: 1832
Roger Williams
A Plea for Religious Toleration 1644
James Wilson
On Federalism
On Constitution, State Sovereignty, and Consolidation 1 Dec 1787
Famous Political Documents in Western Culture
Privileges and Prerogatives Granted to Columbus: April 30, 1492
Magna Charta or The Great Charter of King John
The Mayflower Compact
The Declaration of Independence
The Articles of Confederation
Gettysburg Address
Constitution of the United States (1787)
Bill of Rights to the Constitution of the United States (1789)
Amendments, U.S. Constitution, Since Bill of Rights
Contemporary Essays and Articles
Jonathan Dolhenty
What Form of Government Do We Have Anyway?
Dennis Behreandt
In Praise of Gridlock
Steve Farrell
Regarding Ancient Greek Tyrants, Modern Elites, and Manly Duty: Dec. 10 2011
Tyranny Unmasked: Defense Bill Will War Against Americans: Nov. 30 2011
On Orchestrated Character Assaults: Nov. 29, 2011
Denying Spiritual Man
We Should Soon Want Bread
Men, Freemen, Christian Freemen
Vice President: Loving Heir Apparent
The Great and Terrible Lie
The Public Consequences of So-Called Private Choices
Laying Claim Upon the Higher Law
Hooker, Paine, Roots of the Law, and the Need to Reform
For the Sake of Party or Principle?
Fast Asleep in Philosophical Tranquility As a Civil War is Born
Johnathan Edwards: New England and the Latter-day Glory
Christianity and Religious Freedom: On a Candlestick or Under the Bushel?
Getting Up Front and Personal With the Ten Commandments
Hang the Ten Commandments Back Up!
Candid Common Sense on Morality, Law, and the Nature of Man
Divide and Command
The President’s Unconstitutional and Immoral War
Rights, Wrongs, and the Law
Moral Beings and the Law
Leonard O. Goenaga
Church and State: A ‘Wall of Separation’ (and a 100+ Pound Cheese)
Excellent Offsite Sources
1. The Founders’ Constitution: Online library a joint project of Liberty Fund, Inc (who produced this five volume wonder, and the University of Chicago.
2. Liberty Library of Constitutional Classics: A project of Jon Roland’s Constitution Society. Filled with original full text source documents dating back to the 4th Century BC., all the way up through the founding era.
3. Library of Economics and Liberty, The Library of Economics and Liberty is dedicated to advancing the study of economics, markets, and liberty. It offers a unique combination of resources for students, teachers, researchers, and aficionados of economic thought. The website is provided by Liberty Fund, Inc., a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. The Foundation develops, supervises, and finances its own educational activities, with the goal of fostering discussion and thought on enduring topics pertaining to the creation and maintenance of such a society.