Primary Sources

History is best understood by examining the documents and reading the words of those involved in the events one is studying. When these documents, photographs and other items were actually written at the time of the event, they are known as primary sources. From the Declaration of Independence, to the Emancipation Proclamation and through letters, diary entries, and military orders you’ll find scores of primary sources here to read what people wrote at the time.

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Battle

260 items


Royal Proclamation of 1763 King George's 1763 Proclamation prohibiting settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains	Rev War Dedication Speech for the Bennington Battle Monument Dedication speech for the Benning Battle Monument delivered by E. J. Phelps on August 19, 1891, in...	Rev War Dedication Speech Delivered by Warren G. Harding for the the Princeton Battle Monument The Dedication speech for the Princeton Battle Monument was delivered by President Warren G...	War of 1812 Corner Laying Ceremony for the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial Oration delivered by Hon. Rufus P. Spalding during the corner laying ceremony for Perry's Victory...
War of 1812 Chase Clough Details the 1814 Niagara Campaign to His Wife The Niagra Campaign was the American 1813-1814 infiltration of Canada on the Niagra peninsula after...	War of 1812 James Madison's 1814 State of the Union Address One month after the burning of Washington, D.C. by British troops, Madison reassures Congress that...	War of 1812 James Madison's 1813 State of the Union Address James Madison was inaugurated on March 4, 1813, for his second term as President. During his...	War of 1812 British Secretary of the Admiralty John W. Croker’ letter to Admiral John Borlase Warren Detailing British Naval Supremacy and Tactics During the War of 1812 After the defeat of HMS Guerriere on August 19, 1812, and the HMS Java on December 29, 1812,...
War of 1812 U.S. Secretary of the Navy’s General Order on Curbing Rampant Smuggling to the Enemy Smuggling was common throughout the War of 1812 and, even with military intervention, continued...	War of 1812 Editorial Written by War-Hawk Henry Clay in Favor of War with Great Britain Henry Clay was an adamant supporter of the War of 1812 and successfully lobbied representatives in...	War of 1812 Declaration of War by the United States Against Great Britain Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in...	War of 1812 Proposed Amendments to the Constitution by the Hartford Convention Between December 15, 1814, and January 5, 1815, representatives from the Federalist Party met in...
War of 1812 Act Prohibiting Americans from Trading with Great Britain or Other Enemies of the United States This Act was issued less than a month after war was declared on Great Britain. Be it enacted by the...	Act Imploring the Safe and Fair Treatment of Prisoners of War This Act was issued less than a month after war was declared on Great Britain. Be it enacted by the...	War of 1812 Act Encouraging and Allowing Americans to Destroy Enemy Vessels Act allowing Americans to destroy enemy vessels. This Act was issued two months after the Battle of...	War of 1812 Article from the Niles Weekly Register Concerning a Possible Declaration of War Article published in the Niles Weekly Register discussing the possibility of war with Great Britain...