Historical Research Library Discover the people, events, and key documents that shaped the Founding Era.
James Madison’s Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments, 1785 An argument against state-sponsored religion, defending religious freedom and the separation of church and state Key Document
Shays’ Rebellion, 1786 An armed uprising by indebted Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustice and demanding debt relief Event
Thomas Jefferson on Manumitting Slaves, 1789 Letter sent from Paris reflecting on freeing slaves—revealing his conflicting beliefs on liberty and equality amid the revolution Supporting Document
Bill of Rights, 1791 The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution—hard-fought additions that protect some individual liberties and limit government power Key Document
Whiskey Rebellion, 1794 Pennsylvania farmers violently resisted a federal whiskey tax—illustrating the tensions between frontiersmen and the new government’s authority Event
Samuel Adams One of the first Americans to challenge British rule and resist their policies in the 1760s and 1770s Person
John Adams A leading proponent of independence, a congressman, a diplomat, and the second President of the United States Person
Richard Allen Prominent Philadelphia advocate for abolition and civil rights and founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Person
Nathanael Greene Trusted aide to George Washington known for strategic brilliance and Revolutionary War victories Person
Alexander Hamilton A poor immigrant from the Caribbean who became a key figure in the Revolution and in establishing the US government Person
George III King of Great Britain viewed as a tyrant by colonists and a symbol of imperial rule Person