This document summarizes important historical American documents and laws passed by Congress. It outlines key documents such as the Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Common Sense, Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Emancipation Proclamation. It also summarizes important laws passed by Congress including the Northwest Ordinance, Missouri Compromise, and Compromise of 1850, which established territorial governments and attempted to balance the number of free and slave states.

1. Important Documents
&
Laws passed by Congress

2. Important Documents
Magna Carta (1215) -
English agreement that guaranteed
certain rights to all Englishmen;
Influenced the American Bill of Rights

3. Important Documents
Mayflower Compact (1620) –
Signed by many pilgrims on their way to
the new world; helped establish the idea
of self government

4. Important Documents
Common Sense –
Influential pamphlet written by Thomas
Paine, it urged Americans to declare their
independence.

5. Important Documents
Declaration of Independence (1776)-
Announce the separation of the colonies
from England.

6. Important Documents
Constitution (1787) –
Blue print for the American Government

7. Important Documents
Federalist Papers –
Series of essays about the nature of
government; written by Hamilton,
Madison and Jay; written to help get the
Constitution ratified.

8. Important Documents
Bill of Rights –
first 10 amendments of the Constitution

9. Important Documents
Monroe Doctrine –
Presidential message that said Europe
should not interfere in the affairs of Latin
America and the U.S. would not interfere
in European affairs

10. Important Documents
Emancipation Proclamation –
Executive order by Abraham Lincoln that
freed slaves in rebelling states of the
confederacy

11. Important Documents
Gettysburg Address –
Speech by Lincoln that stated the Union
was worth fighting for

12. Magna Carta (1215) - English agreement that guaranteed certain rights to all Englishmen; Influenced the
American Bill of Rights
Mayflower Compact (1620) – Signed by many pilgrims on their way to the new world; helped establish the
idea of self government
Common Sense – Influential pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, it urged Americans to declare their
independence.
Declaration of Independence (1776)- Announce the separation of the colonies from England.
Constitution (1787) – Blue print for the American Government
Federalist Papers – Series of essays about the nature of government; written by Hamilton, Madison and Jay;
written to help get the Constitution ratified.
Bill of Rights – first 10 amendments of the Constitution
Monroe Doctrine – Presidential message that said Europe should not interfere in the affairs of Latin America
and the U.S. would not interfere in European affairs
Emancipation Proclamation – Executive order by Abraham Lincoln that freed slaves in rebelling states of the
confederacy
Gettysburg Address – Speech by Lincoln that stated the Union was worth fighting for
Important Documents

13. Laws Passed by Congress
Northwest Ordinance –
established government for the
Northwest Territory and described how a
territory becomes a state

14. Laws Passed by Congress
Missouri Compromise (1820) –
Admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as
a free state, and prohibited slavery north of
Missouri maintaining balance between free and
slave states in Congress

15. Laws Passed by Congress
Compromise of 1850 –
preserved balance of free and slave states
and said that congress would not regulate
slavery in territories

16. Laws Passed by Congress
Northwest Ordinance – established government for the Northwest
Territory and described how a territory becomes a state
Missouri Compromise (1820) – Admitted Missouri as a slave state
and Maine as a free state, and prohibited slavery north of Missouri
maintaining balance between free and slave states in Congress
Compromise of 1850 – preserved balance of free and slave states
and said that congress would not regulate slavery in territories

17. The End.