Explore the documents, ideas, and people that created the United States — the Constitution and its amendments, the Declaration of Independence, and two and a half centuries of American history, in plain language.
The Preamble and all seven Articles, explained clause by clause — how the government is built and how its powers are divided.
Read it →All 27 amendments in full, each paired with a plain-language explanation — from free speech to the vote.
See the rights →The Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Federalist Papers, in context.
Browse documents →From the Stamp Act to the present — the key moments that tested and shaped the Constitution.
Walk the timeline →Washington, Franklin, Madison, Jefferson, Hamilton and more — who they were and what they argued for.
Meet them →Independence Hall, the National Archives, Mount Vernon, Monticello — the real places where America was founded, with links to visit.
Plan a visit →The best pocket Constitutions, books, flags, and gifts — hand-picked on Amazon. Purchases help keep this library free.
Visit the shop →of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Start with the Preamble and the three branches, then read each Article in plain English.
Begin →The First through Tenth Amendments — the Bill of Rights — and the fourteen that followed.
See your rights →Trace the road from colonial protest to a signed Constitution and beyond.
Follow the story →Hand-picked pocket Constitutions, books, and flags on Amazon. Every purchase helps keep this civics library free and ad-free.