These documents were drafted in the heat of dramatic, fast-moving events. They represented a monumental achievement to the nation’s Founders who believed their experiment in self-government held the promise of liberty for all mankind. The principles established in the Charters have bound the nation together through more than two centuries of growth and turmoil. American patriots of every generation have paid in blood to defend these principles.

The documents on display in this gallery chronicle the creation of the Charters and their impact on events in this country and around the world. They reveal the story of earlier generations of Americans who had both the vision to see a better world and the audacity to build it.

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