Christopher Columbus describes his first voyage to the New World (1493) -- Magna Carta becomes a landmark in the history of constitutional liberties -- The "Mayflower" pilgrims form a compact (1620) -- William Penn grants liberal privileges to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania (1701) -- The colonies protest against "Taxation without representation" (1765) -- Thomas Jefferson defends the rights of the colonists (1774) -- Nathaniel Bacon leads a revolt against royal tyranny in Virginia (1676) -- Caesar Rodney writes, on a memorable day, about the voting of the Declaration of Independence -- James Iredell defends the rights of the colonists (1776) -- Thomas Jefferson's "rough draft" of the Declaration of Independence -- The United States seeks aid from Frederick the Great of Prussia (1777) -- Dr. Franklin and Mr. Deane send a certified copy of the declaration to Frederick the Great (1777) -- Dr. Franklin and Mr. Deane send a certified copy of the Articles of Confederation to Frederick the Great (1777) -- "Common sense" rallies the colonies to the idea of independence (1776) -- Tom Paine inspirits Washington's "poor, ragged continentals" -- General Joseph Warren certifies that Paul Revere is an official messenger of the committee of safety -- The continental congress increases the powers of General Washington (December 1776) -- General Washington describes the crisis of the winter of 1780 -- News of the Battle of Lexington spreads through the colonies (1775) -- "Glorious news" arrives from Yorktown -- Great Britain recognizes the independence of the United States in the Treaty of Paris (1783) -- Roger Williams speaks out for complete religious freedom -- Thomas Jefferson writes the Virginia bill for establishing religious freedom -- Stephen Daye prints the first book in the North American colonies (1640) -- President Washington declares that America has given to mankind a policy of freedom worthy of emulation (1790) -- "The federalist" explains and defends the constitution (1788) --
John Jay revises the manuscript of federalist essay number 5 -- Edmund Randolph presents to the convention the Virginia plan for the constitution -- President Washington annotates his copy of the proposed constitution (1787) -- Charles Pinckney suggest the "habeas corpus" clause for inclusion in the Constitution (1787) -- The right to trial by jury is, for the first time, added to the constitution -- Pennsylvania becomes the second state to ratify the federal Constitution (1787) -- Congress approves the Bill of Rights for the Constitution (1789) -- George Mason drafts a proposed Declaration of Rights for the Constitution (1788) -- Virginia proposes amendments protecting civil liberties as she ratifies the Constitution -- Congress works on the drafts of the First Amendments to the Constitution (1789) -- Congress requests the President to submit the Bill of Rights to the states for ratification -- Virginia's ratification of the Bill of Rights makes the first ten amendments a part of the Constitution -- Thomas Jefferson deplores the lack of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution (1787) -- James Madison informs Jefferson of his introduction of resolutions providing for a Bill of Rights (1789) -- Alexander Hamilton prepares an outline for parts of "the federalist" -- Secretary of the Treasury Hamilton outlines his "report on the public credit" -- Secretary Hamilton prepares a draft of the farewell address for submission to President Washington (1796) -- The American flag is unfurled to Battle for the first time -- Francis Scott Key writes "the star spangled banner" -- General Washington submits the account of his expenses during the Revolutionary War -- President Washington formulates a political legacy to the nation in a farewell address (1796) -- President Abraham Lincoln proposes a plan for the abolition of slavery (1862) -- President Lincoln signs the emancipation proclamation (1863) -- A joint resolution of Congress proposes the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution --
Henry Laurens of South Carolina denounces the institution of slavery (1776) -- General Robert E. Lee accepts the presidency of Washington College (1865) -- President Lincoln declares that America much needs "a good definition of the word liberty" (1864) -- Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton petition Congress for women's right to vote -- Matilda Hindman petitions Congress against depriving the women of Utah of the right to vote (1874) -- The nineteenth amendment enfranchises the women of the United States -- Congress establishes a new landmark of freedom in the Northwest ordinance (1787) -- President McKinley insists that the Filipinos be given the right to enjoy the basic civil liberties of American citizens (1900) -- President Truman proclaims the independence of the Philippines -- President Theodore Roosevelt reaffirms our determination to withdraw from Cuba (1907) -- The U.S. proclaims the end of slavery and peonage on the island of Guam -- Lafayette finds the proposed Constitution to be "a bold, large, and solid frame" for the new government -- Kosciuszko, "the George Washington of Poland," declares his partiality for the United States and its inhabitants (1786) -- Tom Paine, ambassador of freedom to two worlds, writes from Paris in praise of "my much loved America" (1790) -- Francisco de Miranda appeals for the aid of the United States in the liberation of South America (1798) -- Louis Kossuth calls the United States "this glorious house of liberty" (1852) -- The first woman to serve in the armed forces of the United States applies for a pension -- Governor Patrick Henry instructs George Rogers Clark to spread "equal liberty and happiness" in the Illinois Country (1778) -- John Paul Jones declares that, if the war should continue, he wishes to have "the most active part in it" (1782) -- Sergeant Lee claims a pension for services on the first American submarine -- Webster and Ashburton inaugurate an enduring friendship between the United States and Canada -- Benjamin Franklin writes his own epitaph --
The French nation renders tribute to the memory of Dr. Franklin -- Congress thanks the French nation for the tribute to the memory of Dr. Franklin -- Thomas Jefferson writes from Paris in praise of America (1785) -- Governor John Jay of New York coins the word "Americanize" -- The King of Siam offers a gift of elephants to President Lincoln -- General Andrew Jackson reports the victorious battle of New Orleans (1815) -- The news of peace comes belatedly to the U.S. frigate "constitution" while on the high seas -- The United States returns a part of the boxer indemnity funds to China -- President Theodore Roosevelt informs congress of the action to remit a portion of the boxer indemnity funds -- Congress acts to provide the first important measure to aid higher education in the United States (1862) -- John Peter Zenger provokes Governor Cosby to a test of freedom of the press (1734) -- John Peter Zenger continues to edit his "New-Yokr Weekly Journal" while in jail and awaiting trial (November 25, 1734) -- John Peter Zenger publishes the account of the vindication of a free press (August 18, 1735) -- Benjamin Franklin defends freedom of the press -- John Wilkes attacks the policies of George III -- Elijah Lovejoy dies defending freedom of the press -- George Hay defends freedom of the press from legislative control -- John Milton defends the liberty of printing (1644) -- Thomas Jefferson declares that an honest press is "equally the friend of science and civil liberty" (1807) -- Thomas Jefferson declares that newspapers are indispensable since the basis of government is public opinion -- President Wilson drafts a covenant for the League of Nations (1918) -- The United Nations declare themselves for a great common purpose -- The San Francisco conference formulates the charter of the United Nations (1945) -- President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaims an unlimited national emergency (1941) -- General Eisenhower is selected as supreme commander upon the successful invasion of western Europe --
The invasion of western Europe is agreed upon at Teheran (1943)
Secretary of war Henry L. Stimson congratulates the supreme commander upon the successful invastion of western Europe
General Wainwright attempts to send a last message from Corregidor (1942)
The intelligence officer of the encircled Garrison at Bastogne says, "Merry Christmas" to his superiors while General McAuliffe says "nuts" to the Germans
Admiral Spruance reports on the victorious operations at Iwo Jima
Admiral Halsey describes American naval action in Philippine waters (1944)
Admiral Nimitz reports the victory of Midway (1942)
Secretary of the navy Knox praises the Marine Corps
General Stilwell describes the bravery of his Chinese troops (1944)
President Franklin Delano Reoosevelt pays tribute to an early hero of World War II
General Mark W. Clark proclaims final victory of the allied forces in Italy
General Yamashita, "tiger of Malaya" surrenders to American forces in the Philippines
The frayed remnant of Japanese might surrenders on Truk
Germany surrenders unconditionally at Rheims
Justice returns to Wake Island
General Stilwell accepts the surrender of the Japanese forces on the Ryukyus Islands
The log of the USS "Missouri" records the formal surrender of Japan
General Eisenhower's personal flag
Flag flown from USS "Missouri" when the Japanese surrendered
