A National Initiative on American History, Civics, and Service an OVERVIEW America Has Never Been United by Blood Or Birth Or Soil

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Our Documents: A National Initiative on American History, Civics, and Service AN OVERVIEW America has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by ideals It is the purpose of Our National History Day is a Documents: A National nationally acclaimed history that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests and teach us Initiative on American History, education program that is Civics, and Service, to pro- promoting the study of civics what it means to be citizens. Every child must be taught these principles. Every mote public understanding and citizenship among the of how rights and responsibil- nation’s students and teachers. citizen must uphold them. And every immigrant, by embracing these ideals, makes ities have taken shape over National History Day is time. Our Documents is an encouraging students in grade our country more, not less, American. initiative of National History Day 6-12 to participate in its annual and The National Archives and Student Competition on Rights —PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH Records Administration in coop- and Responsibilities in JANUARY 20, 2001 eration with the Corporation for History and challenging National and Community Service teachers to develop lessons to and the USA Freedom Corps. restore the study of our nation’s heritage to a prominent place in The Our Documents initiative the classroom. To find out more, revolves around 100 milestone go to www.NationalHistoryDay.org. documents drawn from thousands of public laws, Supreme The National Archives and Court decisions, inaugural Records Administration, is speeches, treaties, constitutional a Federal agency that provides amendments, and other national ready access to essential treasures that have shaped us government records that as a people and that are a part document the rights of American of the historic legacy maintained citizens, the actions of Federal by the National Archives and officials, and the national Records Administration. The experience. Through the National goal of the initiative is to engage Archives Experience, the students, teachers, parents, and National Archives is developing members of the general public in new, interactive educational reading these historical docu- programs to give people a ments, reflecting upon them, deeper understanding of the and discussing them. contemporary importance and value of our country’s recorded The Our Documents website history. To find out more, go and publications include every- to www.archives.gov. thing students, educators, and the public need to participate in The Corporation for National the Our Documents initiative, and Community Service, is a including opportunities to Federal agency that engages we the people Review the list of 100 mile- Americans of all ages and stone documents and backgrounds in service to help descriptions strengthen communities through in order to form a more perfect union AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and View or print the featured Learn and Serve America. To find documents in their original out more, go to www.cncs.gov. discover…investigate… participate format with background resources USA Freedom Corps is a White Vote online for the 10 most House Coordinating Council significant milestone created by President George W. documents Bush to help foster a culture www.ourdocuments.gov Consult the educator of service, citizenship, and sourcebook for lesson plans responsibility in America’s If you have questions or want to learn more about and classroom activities communities. To find out more, how you, your school, or your community can participate go to www.usafreedomcorps.gov. Attend a teacher workshop in the Our Documents initiative contact: Create an entry for National National History Day at [email protected]. History Day’s student competition National Archives and Records Administration at Develop a lesson plan for [email protected]. National History Day’s teacher competition Use Our Documents poster to promote this initiative in your classroom, library, or office Contents

5 Introduction

7 Understanding Our Documents: A Competition for Students

8 Teaching Our Documents: A Lesson Plan Competition for Educators

9 100 American Milestone Documents

A National Initiative on American History,Civics,and Service AN OVERVIEW

2 Our Documents Our Documents: A National Initiative on American History, Civics, and Service

Introduction

Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought hen the tall, fiery Virginian Richard Henry Lee proposed that the Second Continental Congress adopt the simple Resolution to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved at left, could he have known where it would take the people of the land we now call the United States of America? That subsequent to his Resolution a young Thomas Jefferson would from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all articulate the long list of grievances against the King of Britain we today embrace as our Declaration of Independence? That a Constitution elaborating an ambitious system of government and the basic political connection between them and the State of Great political rights of a wide-ranging assortment of individuals would soon come to bind the rebellious colonies together? That this gov- Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. That it is ernment and its people would define and redefine It is the purpose of Our Documents: their political relationships as their nation expanded in A National Initiative on American History, population and geography? That the relatively tiny expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for Civics, and Service, sponsored by the America of Lee’s time would grow from a land of National Archives and Records farmers into a postindustrial society that increasingly Administration, National History Day, forming foreign Alliances. That a plan of confederation be found itself compelled to concern itself with the affairs and the U.S.A. Freedom Corps to of the world beyond national borders? promote public exploration of how our understandings of rights and prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their Mr. Lee probably did not foresee such a future for the responsibilities have changed over time. nation he helped bring into being, though he continued to shape the affairs of the new country well after it had consideration and approbation. Resolution presented by Richard Henry Lee established its independence. Among other achievements, Lee helped secure to the Second Continental passage of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787, which expanded the size of the Congress, fledgling nation, but he opposed the strong central government created by the June 7, 1776. Constitution, preferring a looser association among the newly united states. By the time of Richard Henry Lee’s death in 1794, however, the nation’s political complexion had changed from the days of revolution. A people with a different set of beliefs about rights, responsibilities, and republican democracy than Lee had come to prevail over the new government. Such was and would be the pat- tern of historical change in the nation to this very day: ideas about the nation, its

An Overview 5 people, and their rights and responsibilities treaties, constitutional amendments, and change repeatedly over time, even as they other national treasures that have shaped us Understanding Our Documents: remain inspired by the core set of principles as a people and that are a part of the historic A Competition for Students outlined by the Founders in the nation’s ear- legacy maintained by the National Archives liest years. and Records Administration. These docu- Rights and Responsibilities in History, ments reflect the diversity of America, its National History Day 2003 With the Lee Resolution, then, began a new unity, and the commitment of this nation to nation and a conversation about the rights continue the work of forming “a more per- or more than 25 years National History Day (NHD), a non-profit history education and responsibilities of a people who saw fect union.” The goal of the initiative is to Fprogram dedicated to improving the way history is taught and learned, has themselves as united by the civic ideals engage students, teachers, parents, and mem- promoted systemic educational reform related to the teaching and learning of history expressed in the Declaration of bers of the general public in reading these in America’s schools. The year-long NHD program engages students in grades Independence, the Constitution, and the historical documents, reflecting upon them, 6-12 in the process of discovery and interpretation of historical topics. Student Bill of Rights. These founding documents discussing them, and considering which they participants produce dramatic performances, imaginative exhibits, multimedia contain the earliest expression of our deem the most significant. documentaries and research papers based on research related to nation’s political ideals: the right of individ- an annual theme. These projects are then evaluated at local, state, uals to liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and national competitions. Through participation in the competi- The collaboration is especially fitting the emphasis on equal opportunity and tions, students not only gain a deeper understanding of history, this year, as the aim of Our Documents justice, and a commitment to a democratic they improve their research, presentation, and critical thinking Our Documents includes a variety of activities is to further appreciation for our republic and the general welfare of the skills. With programs in 50 states and the District of Columbia, to assist all Americans in this exploration. nation’s civic legacy through study citizenry. Most Americans’ notions of NHD engages all types of students—public, private, parochial and 1) A project web site that features the milestone docu- of key documents related to the rights rights and responsibilities still reflect these home-school students; and urban, suburban, and rural. More ments. Three new documents will be added to the site and responsibilities of citizens, and civic ideals, first articulated more than two than 700,000 students participate in the NHD program yearly. each week. The site will include not only a high- this year’s NHD theme is Rights and hundred years ago. resolution scanned version of the original document, In collaborating with the National Archives and Records Responsibilities in History. but also a transcription, and supplementary materials. Administration, the Corporation for National and Community It is the purpose of Our Documents: Service, and the USA Freedom Corps in the Our Documents 2) A national vote on the ten most significant documents A National Initiative on American History, Initiative this year, NHD hopes to expand appreciation of our in American history that will be launched next year. Civics, and Service, a collaboration between nation’s history among students, as well as promote excellent teaching in the nation’s the National Archives and Records 3) A sourcebook assisting teachers in using Our Documents schools. The collaboration is especially fitting this year, as the aim of Our Documents is Administration, National History Day, the in their classrooms that will be published on the website to further appreciation for our nation’s civic legacy through study of key documents Corporation for National and Community and in hard copy. related to the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and this year’s NHD theme is Rights Service, and the U.S.A. Freedom Corps to 4) A student competition to engage young people in an and Responsibilities in History. The wide availability of documents so relevant to this promote public understanding of how rights exploration of their nation's history. year’s NHD theme via the new Our Documents website maintained by the National and responsibilities have taken shape over Archives and Records Administration opens opportunities to create exceptionally strong 5) A teacher competition to encourage educators to time. Such an exploration of the nation’s projects this year. civic legacy will encourage national reflection develop lessons incorporating the milestone documents on the meanings of citizenship in a demo- in classroom teaching. Any student in grades 6-12 may enter the National History Day Contest in either the cratic society. The Our Documents initiative For additional information related to junior (grades 6-8) or senior (grades 9-12) divisions. Winners of the National History revolves around 100 milestone documents Our Documents, visit www.ourdocuments.gov. Day Contest will be announced at the national contest held at University of Maryland drawn from thousands of public laws, at College Park, June 15-19, 2003. For more information on National History Day, Supreme Court decisions, inaugural speeches, visit the NHD website at www.nationalhistoryday.org.

6 Our Documents An Overview 7 100 American Milestone Documents

he following is a list of 100 American milestone documents, compiled by the Teaching Our Documents: TNational Archives and Records Administration, and drawn primarily from its A Lesson Competition for Educators nationwide holdings. The documents chronicle United States history from 1776 Rights and Responsibilities in History, to 19651. National History Day 2003 The list begins with the Lee Resolution of June 7, 1776, a simple document resolving that the United Colonies “are, and of right, ought to be free and independent states. . .” and ends with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a statute that helped fulfill the promise of ational History Day is pleased to announce a new opportunity for history and freedom inherent in the first documents on the list. The remaining milestone docu- social studies teachers to develop document-based lesson plans for national awards N ments are among the thousands of public laws, Supreme Court decisions, inaugural and distribution. Teaching Our Documents: A National History Day Lesson Competition speeches, treaties, constitutional amendments, and other documents that have for Educators invites teachers to develop and test a classroom lesson focusing on one or influenced the course of United States history. They have helped shape the national several of the 100 Milestone Documents in US History. Lessons should engage students character, and they reflect our diversity, our unity, and our commitment as a nation to in a meaningful examination of the documents within their historical context. continue our work toward forming “a more perfect union.” Awards will be announced at the annual National History Day national competition 1. Lee Resolution, 1776 4. Treaty of Alliance with June 15-19, 2003 at the University of Maryland at College Park and award-winning France, 1778 On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee lesson plans will be shared with other teachers nationwide. The American Colonies and France of Virginia introduced this resolu- signed this treaty on February 6, tion in the Second Continental 1778, that established a military Congress, proposing independence alliance whose goal was the inde- Additional information and contest rules are available for the American colonies. www.ourdocuments.gov. pendence of the United States of online at 2. Declaration of America. Independence, 1776 The Continental Congress adopted 5. Original Design of the Great Seal of the United the Declaration of Independence on States, 1782 July 4, 1776. It was copied on Just a few hours after the parchment, and on August 2, 1776, Declaration of Independence was delegates began signing it. adopted by the Continental 3. Articles of Congress on July 4, 1776, the first Confederation, 1777 committee to design a seal for the After considerable debate and alter- United States was appointed, and its ation, the Articles of Confederation design began. After undergoing were adopted by the Continental numerous changes, on June 20, Congress on November 15, 1777. 1782, the seal was officially adopted This document served as the United by the Continental Congress. States’ first constitution, and was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present day Constitution 1 The decision not to include milestone documents since 1965 was a deliberate acknowledgement of the difficulty in examining more recent history. As stated in the went into effect. guidelines for the National History Standards, developed by the National Center for History in the Schools, “Historians can never attain complete objectivity, but they tend to fall shortest of the goal when they deal with current or very recent events.”

8 Our Documents An Overview 9 6. Treaty of Paris, 1783 10. The Federalist Papers 15. President George 19. Marbury v. Madison, This treaty, signed on September 3, Number 10, 1787; Washington’s Farewell 1803 Number 51, 1788 Address, 1796 ** 1783 in Paris, between the American The decision in this Supreme The Federalist Papers were a series In his farewell presidential address, colonies and Great Britain, ended Court case established the right of essays published in newspapers in President George Washington the American Revolution and for- of the courts to determine the 1787 and 1788 by James Madison, advised American citizens to view mally recognized the United States Constitutionality of the actions of Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay themselves as a cohesive unit and to as an independent nation. the other two branches of federal to promote the ratification of the avoid political parties, and issued a government. 7. Virginia Plan, 1787 Constitution. special warning to be wary of 20. Treaty of Ghent, 1814 Drafted by James Madison, and pre- attachments and entanglements 11. President George This treaty, signed on December 24, sented by Edmund Randolph to the Washington’s First with other nations. Constitutional Convention on May Inaugural Speech, 1789 1814, ended the War of 1812, fought 16. Alien and Sedition Acts, between Great Britain and the 29, 1787, the Virginia Plan proposed Although not required by the 1798 United States. a strong central government com- Constitution, President George Passed in preparation for an antici- posed of three branches: legislative, Washington presented the first pated war with France, the Alien 21. McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819 executive, and judicial. presidential inaugural address on and Sedition Acts tightened restric- April 30, 1789. This Supreme Court case addressed 8. Northwest Ordinance, tions on foreign-born Americans the issue of federal power and 1787 12. Federal Judiciary Act, and limited speech critical of the commerce. Officially titled “An Ordinance for 1789 government. the Government of the Territory of One of the first acts of the new 22. Missouri Compromise, 17. Jefferson’s Secret 1820 the United States North-West of the Congress was to establish a federal Message to Congress River Ohio,” the Northwest court system through the Judiciary Regarding Exploration This legislation admitted Missouri of the West, 1803 Ordinance was passed on July 13, Act signed by President George as a slave state, and Maine as a non- In this secret message of January 18, 1787. Providing for the orderly Washington on September 24, 1789. slave state at the same time, so as 1803, President Thomas Jefferson not to upset the balance between expansion of the United States into 13. Bill of Rights, 1791 asked Congress for $2,500 to explore slave and free states in the nation. It the western territory—the lands Although twelve amendments to the the West—all the way to the Pacific also outlawed slavery above the 36º north of the Ohio River and east of U.S. Constitution were originally Ocean. At the time, the territory did 30´ latitude line in the remainder of the Mississippi, this document proposed, the ten that were ratified not belong to the United States. the Louisiana territory. promised settlers of the Northwest became the Bill of Rights in 1791. Congress agreed to fund the expedi- Territory the same individual liber- They defined citizens’ rights in 23. Monroe Doctrine, 1823 tion that would be led by Meriwether ties that had been fought for during relation to the newly established The Monroe Doctrine was articulat- Lewis and William Clark. the Revolution. government under the Constitution. ed in President James Monroe’s sev- 18. Louisiana Purchase enth annual message to Congress on 9. Constitution of the 14. Patent for the Cotton Treaty, 1803 United States, 1787 Gin, 1794 December 2, 1823. The European In this transaction with France, Drafted in secret by delegates to the Designed to separate cotton fiber powers, according to Monroe, were signed on April 30, 1803, the United Constitutional Convention during from seed, Whitney’s cotton gin, for obligated to respect the Western States purchased 828,000 square the summer of 1787, this four-page which he received a patent on hemisphere as the United States’ miles of land west of the Mississippi document, signed on September 17, March 14, 1794, introduced a new, sphere of interest. River for $15 million. For roughly 1787, established the government of profitable technology to agricultural 4 cents an acre, the United States the United States. production in America. doubled its size, expanding the nation westward.

10 Our Documents An Overview 11 24. Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824 28. Kansas-Nebraska Act, 33. Morrill Act, 1862 37. Wade-Davis Bill, 1864 This Supreme Court decision for- 1854 Passed on July 2, 1862, this act made At the end of the Civil War, bids states from enacting any legisla- Officially titled “An Act to Organize it possible for new western states to this bill created a framework for tion that would interfere with the Territories of Nebraska and establish colleges for their citizens. Reconstruction and the re-admit- Congress’s right to regulate com- Kansas,” this act repealed the The new land-grant institutions, tance of the Confederate states to merce among the separate states. Missouri Compromise. which emphasized agriculture and the Union. 25. President Andrew 29. Dred Scott v Sanford, mechanic arts, opened opportunities 38. President Abraham Jackson’s Message to 1857 to thousands of farmers and work- Lincoln’s Second Congress “On Indian The ruling in this Supreme ing people previously excluded from Inaugural Address, 1865 Removal,” 1830 ** Court case stated that no slave or higher education. On December 6, 1830, in a message descendant of a slave had ever been On March 4, 1865, in his second to Congress, President Andrew 34. Emancipation inaugural address, President a citizen, or could be a citizen of the Proclamation, 1863 Jackson called for the relocation of Abraham Lincoln spoke of mutual United States. President Abraham Lincoln issued eastern Native American tribes to forgiveness between the North and 30. Telegram Announcing the Emancipation Proclamation on land west of the Mississippi River, in South, asserting that the true mettle the Surrender of Fort January 1, 1863. It declared, “that all order to open new land for settle- Sumter, 1861 of a nation lies in its capacity for persons held as slaves” within the ment by members of the United In this 2-page document, Major charity. rebellious states “are, and hencefor- States. Robert Anderson, commanding ward shall be free.” 39. Articles of Agreement 26. Treaty of Guadalupe officer of the Union troops at Fort Relating to the Hidalgo, 1848 Sumter, announces the surrender of 35. War Department General Surrender of the Army Order 143: Creation of of Northern Virginia, This treaty, signed on February 2, Ft. Sumter, the first battle of the the U.S. Colored Troops, 1865 1848, ended the war between the Civil War. 1863 On April 9, 1865, Generals Ulysses S. United States and Mexico. By its 31. Homestead Act, 1862 President Abraham Lincoln Grant and Robert E. Lee met in the terms, Mexico ceded 55% of its terri- Passed on May 20, 1862, the approved the recruitment of slaves parlor of a house in Appomattox tory, including parts of present-day Homestead Act accelerated the set- and free blacks for military service, Court House, Virginia, to discuss Arizona, California, New Mexico, tlement of the western territory by and the War Department issued this surrender of the Army of Texas, and parts of Colorado, Nevada, granting adult heads of families 160 General Order 143 on May 22, 1863, Northern Virginia. According to the and Utah, to the United States. acres of surveyed public land for a creating the United States Colored terms, the men of Lee’s army could 27. Compromise of 1850 minimal filing fee and five years of Troops. return home in safety if they pledged The Compromise was actually a continuous residence on that land. 36. Gettsyburg Address, to end the fighting and deliver their 1863 ** arms to the Union Army. series of bills passed mainly to 32. Pacific Railway Act, Delivered by President Abraham address issues related to slavery. The 1862 40. 13th Amendment to the bills provided for slavery to be This act, passed on July 1, 1862, pro- Lincoln on November 19, 1863, at U.S. Constitution: the dedication of the cemetery in Abolition of Slavery, decided by popular sovereignty in vided federal subsidies in land and 1865 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The the admission of new states, prohib- loans for the construction of a Passed by Congress on January 31, address urged Americans to remem- ited the slave trade in the District of transcontinental railroad across the 1865, and ratified on December 6, ber the cause for which the soldiers Columbia, settled a Texas boundary United States. 1865, the 13th Amendment abol- at Gettysburg died, and to rededi- dispute, and established a stricter ished slavery in the United States. Fugitive Slave Act. This featured cate themselves to the principles of document is Henry Clay’s handwrit- freedom and equality announced in ten draft. the Declaration of Independence.

12 Our Documents An Overview 13 41. Cancelled Check for the 46. Thomas Edison’s Patent 51. Sherman Anti-Trust Act, 56. Theodore Roosevelt’s Purchase of Alaska, Application for the Light 1890 Corollary to the Monroe 1868 Bulb, 1880 Approved July 2, 1890, The Sherman Doctrine, 1905 With this check, the United States On January 27, 1880, Thomas Anti-Trust Act was the first federal In his annual messages to Congress purchased Alaska from Russia for Edison received the historic patent act that outlawed monopolistic in 1904 and 1905, President $7.2 million. incorporating the principles of his business practices. Theodore Roosevelt expanded the incandescent lamp that paved the Monroe Doctrine. The corollary 42. Treaty of Fort Laramie, 52. Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896 1868 way for the universal domestic use stated that not only were the nations The ruling in this Supreme Court In this treaty, signed on April 29, of electric light. of the Western Hemisphere not case upheld a Louisiana state law, 1868, between the U.S. Government open to colonization by European 47. Chinese Exclusion Act, which allowed for “equal but sepa- and the Sioux Nation, the U.S. recog- 1882 powers, but that the United States rate accommodations for the white nized the Black Hills as part of the The Chinese Exclusion Act was had responsibility to preserve order and colored races.” Great Sioux Reservation, set aside for approved on May 6, 1882. It was the and protect life and property in exclusive use by the Sioux people. first significant law restricting immi- 53. de Lome Letter, 1898 those countries. This letter, written by the Spanish 43. 14th Amendment to the gration into the United States. 57. 16th Amendment to the Ambassador to the United States, U.S. Constitution: Civil 48. Pendleton Act, 1883 Constitution: Federal Rights, 1868 Enrique Dupuy de Lome, criticized Income Tax, 1913 Approved on January 16, 1883, Passed by Congress on June 13, American President William Passed by Congress on July 2, 1909, the Pendleton Act established a 1866, and ratified on July 9, 1868, McKinley by calling him weak and and ratified on February 3, 1913, the merit-based system of selecting the 14th Amendment extended concerned only with gaining the 16th Amendment established government officials and super- liberties and rights granted by the favor of the crowd. Publication of Congress’s right to impose a federal vising their work. Bill of Rights to former slaves. the letter helped generate public income tax. 49. Interstate-Commerce support for a war with Spain over 44. 15th Amendment to the Act, 1887 58. 17th amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Voting the issue of independence for the Constitution: Direct Rights, 1870 Approved on February 4, 1887, the Election of U.S. Spanish colony Passed by Congress on February 26, Interstate Commerce Act created an Senators, 1913 of Cuba. 1869, and ratified on February 3, Interstate Commerce Commission Passed by Congress on May 13, 1912, 1870, the 15th Amendment granted to oversee the conduct of the rail- 54. Joint Resolution to and ratified on April 8, 1913, the Provide for Annexing 17th Amendment modified Article I, African-American men the right to road industry. With this act, the rail- the Hawaiian Islands to vote. roads became the first industry sub- the United States, 1898 section 3, of the Constitution, by ject to federal regulation. On July 7, 1898, the Hawaiian allowing voters to cast direct votes 45. Act Establishing for United States Senators. Prior to Yellowstone National 50. Dawes Act, 1887 Islands were annexed by this joint Park, 1872 its passage, Senators were chosen by Approved on February 8, 1887, “An resolution. Yellowstone became the first federal- state legislatures. Act to Provide for the Allotment of 55. Platt Amendment, 1903 ly-protected national park by the Act Lands in Severalty to Indians on the Approved on May 22, 1903, the Platt 59. Keating-Owen Child of Congress signed into law on Labor Act, 1916 Various Reservations,” known as the Amendment was a treaty between March 1, 1872. This act limited the working hours of Dawes Act, emphasized severalty, the the U.S. and Cuba that attempted to children and forbade the interstate treatment of Native Americans as protect Cuba’s independence from sale of goods produced by child labor. individuals rather than as members foreign intervention. It permitted of tribes. extensive U.S. involvement in Cuban international and domestic affairs for the enforcement of Cuban independence.

14 Our Documents An Overview 15 60. Zimmermann Telegram, 64. Boulder Canyon Project 69. President Franklin 73. Joint Address to 1917 Act, 1928 Roosevelt’s Radio Congress Leading to This telegram, written by German This act authorized the construction Address Unveiling a Declaration of War Second Half of the against Japan, 1941 Foreign Secretary Arthur of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado New Deal, 1936 On December 8, 1941, the day after Zimmermann, is a coded message River and the All-American Canal to In this radio address, President the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, sent to Mexico, proposing a military the Imperial Valley in California. Franklin Roosevelt announced a sec- President Franklin Roosevelt deliv- alliance against the United States. 65. Tennessee Valley ond set of measures to combat the ered this “Day of Infamy Speech,” The obvious threats to the United Authority Act, 1933 Great Depression, which became asking Congress to declare war States contained in the telegram This act of May 18, 1933, created known as the Second New Deal. against Japan. inflamed American public opinion the Tennessee Valley Authority, to These included a series of new relief against Germany and helped con- oversee the construction of dams to 74. Executive Order 9066: programs, such as the Works Japanese Relocation vince Congress to declare war control flooding, improve naviga- Progress Administration. Order, 1942 against Germany. tion, and provide affordable electric 70. President Franklin Issued by President Franklin 61. Joint Resolution to power in the Tennessee Valley basin. Roosevelt’s Annual Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, this Message to Congress, Congress leading to a 66. National Industrial order authorized the evacuation of Declaration of War 1941 Recovery Act, 1933 persons deemed a threat to national against Germany, 1917 This speech delivered by President On June 16, 1933, this act estab- security from the West Coast to On April 2, 1917, President Franklin Roosevelt on January 6, lished the National Recovery relocation centers further inland. Woodrow Wilson delivered this 1941, became known as his “Four Administration that supervised fair address to a joint session of Freedoms Speech,” due to a short 75. General Dwight D. trade codes and guaranteed laborers Eisenhower’s Order of Congress and called for a closing portion describing the a right to collective bargaining. the Day, June 6, 1944 declaration of war against Germany. President’s vision in which the This order was issued by General The resulting congressional vote 67. National Labor Relations American ideals of individual liberties Act, 1935 Dwight D. Eisenhower to encourage brought the United States into were extended throughout the world. Also known as the Wagner Act, this Allied soldiers taking part in the World War I. bill was signed into law by President 71. Lend Lease Act, 1941 D-Day invasion. 62. President Woodrow Franklin Roosevelt on July 5, 1935. Passed on March 11, 1941, this act Wilson’s 14 Points, 1918 76. Servicemen’s It established the National Labor set up a system that would allow the Readjustment Act, 1944 In this January 8, 1918, address to Relations Board and addressed rela- United States to lend or lease war Signed into law by Franklin Congress, President Woodrow tions between unions and employers supplies to any nation deemed “vital Roosevelt on June 22, 1944, this act, Wilson proposed a 14-point pro- in the private sector. to the defense of the United States.” also known as the G.I. Bill, provided gram for world peace. These points veterans of the Second World War were later taken as the basis for peace 68. Social Security Act, 1935 72. Executive Order 8802: Prohibition of funds for college education, unem- negotiations at the end of the war. On August 14, 1935, the Social Discrimination in the ployment insurance, and housing. Security Act established a system of Defense Industry, 1941 63. 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: old-age benefits for workers, benefits In June of 1941, President Franklin Women’s Right to Vote, for victims of industrial accidents, Roosevelt issued Executive Order 1920 unemployment insurance, and aid 8802, banning discriminatory Passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, for dependent mothers and chil- employment practices by federal and ratified on August 18, 1920, the dren, the blind, and the physically agencies and all unions and compa- 19th Amendment granted women handicapped. nies engaged in war related work. the right to vote. The order also established the Fair Employment Practices Commission to enforce the new policy.

16 Our Documents An Overview 17 77. Manhattan Project 81. Truman Doctrine, 1947 85. Armistice Agreement for 89. Executive Order 10730: Notebook, 1945 On March 12, 1947, President Harry the Restoration of the Desegregation of Central This notebook records an experi- South Korean State, High School, 1957 Truman presented this address 1953 ment of the Manhattan Project, the This executive order, signed by before a joint session of Congress. This Armistice signed on July 17, all-out, but highly secret effort of President Dwight Eisenhower, sent His message, known as the Truman 1953, formally ended the war in the Federal government to build an federal troops to maintain order and Doctrine, asked Congress for $400 Korea. North and South Korea atomic bomb during World War II. peace while the integration of million in military and economic remained separate, and occupied Recorded here is the world’s first Central High School in Little Rock, assistance for Turkey and Greece. almost the same territory they had controlled, self-sustaining nuclear Arkansas took place. 82. Marshall Plan, 1948 when the war began. chain reaction, achieved on 90. President Dwight D. On April 3, 1948, President Harry December 2, 1942. 86. Senate Resolution 301, Eisenhower’s Farewell Truman signed the Economic Censure of Senator Address, 1961 Joseph McCarthy, 1954 78. Surrender of Germany, Recovery Act of 1948. It became On January 17, 1961, in this farewell 1945 On December 2, 1954, the Senate known as The Marshall Plan, named address, President Dwight This instrument of surrender was voted to censure Senator Joseph for Secretary of State George Eisenhower warned against the signed on May 7, 1945, at General McCarthy, who had led the fight in Marshall, who in 1947 proposed that establishment of a “military- Eisenhower’s headquarters in Congress to root out suspected the United States provide economic industrial complex.” Rheims by Col. Gen. Gustav Jodl, Communists from the federal gov- assistance to restore the economic 91. President John F. Chief of Staff of the German Army. ernment. The censure described his infrastructure of post-war Europe. Kennedy’s Inaugural 79. United Nations Charter, behavior as “contrary to senatorial Address, 1961 1945 83. Press Release traditions.” On January 20, 1961, President John Announcing U.S. On June 26, 1945, in San Francisco, Recognition of Israel, 87. Brown v. Board of F. Kennedy delivered his inaugural the United Nations was established. 1948 Education, 1954 address in which he announced that Article 111 of its charter indicated At midnight on May 14, 1948, the In this decision, the Supreme Court “we shall pay any price, bear any that, “The present Charter, of which Provisional Government of Israel ruled that separating children in burden, meet any hardship, support the Chinese, French, Russian, proclaimed a new State of Israel. On public schools on the basis of race any friend, oppose any foe to assure English, and Spanish texts are equal- that same date, the United States, in was unconstitutional. It signaled the the survival and success of liberty.” ly authentic, shall remain deposited the person of President Harry end of legalized racial segregation in 92. Executive Order 10924: in the archives of the Government Truman, recognized the provisional the schools of the United States, Establishment of the of the United States of America. Jewish government as de facto overruling the “separate but equal” Peace Corps, 1961 Duly certified copies thereof shall be authority of the Jewish state (de jure principle set forth in the 1896 Plessy On March 1, 1961, President John F. transmitted by that Government to recognition was extended on v. Ferguson case. Kennedy signed this executive order the Governments of the other signa- January 31, 1949). establishing the Peace Corps. On 88. National Interstate and September 22, 1961, Congress tory states.” 84. Executive Order 9981: Defense Highways Act, 1956 approved the legislation that formally 80. Surrender of Japan, Desegregation of the 1945 Armed Forces, 1948 This act authorized the building of authorized the Peace Corps. Goals of Aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, this On July 26, 1948, President Harry highways throughout the nation, the Peace Corps included: 1) Helping instrument of surrender was signed Truman signed this executive order which would be the biggest public the people of interested countries and on September 2, 1945 by the establishing the President’s works project in the nation’s history. areas in meeting their needs for Japanese envoys Foreign Minister Committee on Equality of trained workers; 2) Helping promote Mamora Shigemitsu and Gen. Treatment and Opportunity in the a better understanding of Americans Yoshijiro Umezu. Armed Services, committing the on the part of the peoples served; and government to integrating the 3) Helping promote a better under- segregated military. standing of other peoples on the part of Americans.

18 Our Documents An Overview 19 93. Transcript of John 97. Civil Rights Act, 1964 Glenn’s official This act, signed into law by communication with the command center, 1962 President Lyndon Johnson on July 2, John Glenn conducted the first 1964, prohibited discrimination in manned space orbit of the earth on public places, provided for the February 20, 1962. This is the integration of schools and other transcription of his in-flight public facilities, and made employ- communication with Mission ment discrimination illegal. This Control in Florida. document was the most sweeping Civil Rights legislation since 94. Aerial Photograph of missiles in Cuba, 1962 Reconstruction. Instrumental in the early stages of 98. Tonkin Gulf Resolution, the Cuban Missile crisis, these pho- 1964 tographs showed that the Soviet This Joint Resolution of Congress Union was amassing offensive ballis- (H.J. RES 1145) dated August 7, tic missiles in Cuba. President John 1964, gave President Lyndon F. Kennedy warned that any attempt Johnson authority to increase by the Soviet Union to place nuclear United States involvement in weapons in Cuba would be seen as a the war between North and threat to the United States. South Vietnam. 95. Test Ban Treaty, 1963 99. Social Security Act Amendments, 1965 On July 25, 1963, the Limited Test This act was signed into law by Ban Treaty was signed by the United President Lyndon Johnson on July States, Great Britain and the Soviet 30, 1965, in Independence, MO. It Union. After Senate approval, the established Medicare, a health insur- treaty that went into effect on ance program for the elderly, and October 11, 1963, banned nuclear Medicaid, a health insurance weapons testing in the atmosphere, program for the poor. in outer space, and under water. 100.Voting Rights Act, 1965 96. Official Program for the March on Washington, This act was signed into law on 1963 August 6, 1965, by President Lyndon This program listed the events Johnson. It outlawed the discrimina- scheduled at the Lincoln Memorial tory voting practices adopted in during the August 28, 1963, March many Southern states after the Civil on Washington for Jobs and War, including literacy tests as a pre- Freedom. The highlight of the requisite to voting. march, which attracted 250,000 people, was Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Except where noted with **, all of the documents listed above are in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration.

20 Our Documents