LIBERTY RESTORATION CENTER

Historical Documents

Introduction to the Historical Documents

It is our desire at America Reclaimed Ministries, that we can become an instrument of blessing to those who desire to learn more about the strong Biblical and Christian foundations of the United States of America.

According to historian Benjamin F. Morris, in his excellent book, "The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States," of 1864,

"All the colonies, educated under the genius of Christianity and indoctrinated into the knowledge of the principles of just civil governments, laid the basis of their civil systems on the Bible, and made its truths the corner-stone of all their institutions. The fundamental doctrine of the men who planted each colony was, that the legislation of the Bible must be supreme and universal. They rejected as heretical the idea that civil governments could be rightly instituted, or wisely administered, without Christianity. Hence their institutions and their civilization began under the auspices of Heaven, and at once assumed the form of Christian order, and rose into Christian symmetry and completeness; their local democracies, in township, county, and colony, became the nurseries of freedom, and schools of science and art in civil government, and in which each independent colony was in process of preparation for working out the grand results of freedom, and the establishment of a Christian nation on the American continent."

It is our hope that as you read and study the historical documents posted on this website, that you will understand the truth of Mr. Morris' conclusion; that our founders intended to establish a moral order and a civil society based upon the Bible and its timeless truths. Moreover, by doing so, even though there were some notable and shameful periods where the sinfulness of man undermined the intent, they established the greatest foundation for sustained liberty in the history of the world.

We intend to continue to post additional historical documents on this website as we seek to provide you with a more thorough resource for students of this nation's history.

Historical Documents

Foundational Documents:

• Declaration of Independence (1776)
• U.S. Constitution (adopted 1787; ratified 1788)
• Bill of Rights (adopted 1790)

Colonial Charters:

• The First Charter of Virginia (1606)
• Second Charter of Virginia (1609)
• Third Charter of Virginia (1612)
• Charter of New England (1620)
• Charter of Massachusetts Bay (1629)
• The Charter of Maryland (1632)
• Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1638-39)
• Agreement of the Settlers at Exeter in New Hampshire (1639)
• Charter of Connecticut (1662)
• Charter of North Carolina (1663)
• Charter of Pennsylvania (1681)
• Penn's Charter of Liberty (1682)
• Charter of Delaware (1701)
• Charter of Georgia (1732)

Proclamations:

• First Thanksgiving Proclamation (1676)
• Massachusetts Proclamation for Prayer and Fasting (1775)
• Thanksgiving Day Proclamation (1777)
• Congress' Thanksgiving Proclamation (1783)
• Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation (1789)
• Hancock's Thanksgiving Proclamation (1791)
• Lincoln's Prayer Proclamation (1863)

Other Significant Documents:

• Mayflower Compact (1620)
• Old Deluder Satan Law (1647)
• George Washington's First Inaugural Address (1789)
• George Washington's Farewell Address (1796)
• Jefferson's Letter to Danbury Baptists (1801)
• General Order Respecting Observance of Sabbath (1862)

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