American History From Discovery to the Colonial Period

American History From Discovery to the Colonial Period Updated 12/10/03

Columbus, from the Library of Congress.

Online texts in American History, with links to many primary sources. Very useful to see what was actually written or stated.

An examination of the person who founded as a "Holy Experiment", the state of Pennsylvania, and concluded the "Great treaty" with the Delaware (American Indians).

Resources for a literature course include several important documents of the Great Awakening.

Jonathan Edwards, sometimes known as the postmillennialist's postmillennialist, is best known for his role in the Great Awakening, which began as a revival in several churches along the Connecticut River Valley.

Outline of the major events and people in the Great Awakening.

"There are essentially two views of government that have been held to by two groups of evangelical Christians in modern times - the Puritan or Reformed view (based on the ideals of the Protestant Reformation) and Pietist view."

Brief overview of Puritanism as it existed in the Colonies.

Information related to the people (i.e., Puritans, etc) who settled in Plymouth, Mass.

Defined by a sympathetic contemporary.

See what life was like in a Puritan village.

Excerpts from the 1689 English law: An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown.

Complete text of the 1689 English law: An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown.

A major collection of links to the most famous people of the Enlightenment.

Another major collection of links to the most famous people of the Enlightenment.

The following is a list, many with links to the actual full text, of classic books and other works on constitutional government.

The Enlightenment produced its own style of painting, and you can see some examples at this website.

One of the major writings of the Enlightenment, which affected the American system of government.

Another of the major writings of the Enlightenment, which affected the American system of government.

The National Archives and Records Administration offers this excellent explanation of the Magna Carta as it relates to U.S. laws and democratic ideas. Also as a link to the text of the Magna Carta.

Collection of primary source historical documents from the British Isles, from the earliest times through the present: Magna Carta, parliamentary addresses, political statements by thinkers and leaders, philosophical writings, and more.

A large collection of Thomas Jefferson's quotes on Politics & Government, with links to other Web Pages of interest to the basic ideas of democracy and government. Has over 1,500 excerpts from Jefferson's writings.

This hypertext edition of Plato's Apology was written for students taking their first philosophy course at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa. Excellent resource in the development of the concept of Democracy in Ancient Greece.

A collection of works with commentary, by the Greek philosopher, Plato. The Republic in particular has many ideas which eventually influenced Enlightenment thinkers, and the rise of democratic ideas. The famous "Allegory of the Cave" is found here, in The Republic.

Biography and philosophical background on the Greek philosopher, Plato. Includes links to his writings. A very informative essay, with many links to primary sources, related ideas and people.

Biography and philosophical background on the Greek philosopher, Aristotle. Includes links to his writings. A very informative essay, with many links to primary sources, related ideas and people.

Helpful, brief overview of the "Glorious Revolution", with links to related information and people who were part of it.

Biographical and philosophical information on St. Thomas More, of England. This information is taken from the Catholic Encyclopedia on the Web.

Essays by British philosopher, John Locke: Concerning Civil Government, and An Essay Concerning The True Original Extent and End of Civil Government.

The time-line and background on the American Declaration of Independence from Great Britain are presented here, with images and explanation of the key people and their contributions to this historic document.

Exhibition (including background information) on the documents that are the foundation of U.S. laws and rights: The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights. (Amendments 1-10)

Article from the Library of Congress: "The Constitution defines the fundamental law of the United States federal government, setting forth the three principal branches of the federal government, outlining their jurisdictions, and propounding the basic rights of U.S. citizens."

Allows searching of The U.S. Constitution, Federalist Papers, Declaration of Independence, and other early U.S. historical documents.

The Continental Congress Broadside Collection (253 titles) and the Constitutional Convention Broadside Collection (21 titles) contain 274 documents relating to the work of Congress and the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, plus similar primary sources.

Description of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 as a news reporter would write it.

A chapter from the great commentary, Democracy In America, by Alexis de Tocqueville, the French writer who visited America shortly after its founding.

An online set of resources related to the entire subject of philosophy, including biographies of the famous philosophers.

A huge file of information related to philosophy and philosophers.

Starting place for research on philosophy and philosophers.

Another place to find out about philosophy.

American History From Discovery
to the Colonial Period
Updated 12/10/03

`American History of the Discovery and Pre-Colonial Period`

`American History of the Colonial Period`

`The Rise of American Democratic Ideas`

`Declaring Independence, and The Constitution`

`Philosophy and Philosophers`