Looks at 260 major documents, with commentary, pertaining to the structure, formation, and functioning of the political system in colonial and revolutionary America. This work includes documents that are royal charters establishing colonial claims, sermons that question or bolster the established order, Articles of Confederation, and more.

Preface: The Study of Governance Introduction: Origins, 15802-1688 Part I: Ideas on Governance and First Charters 1. Ideas on Governance 2. First Charters Part II: Charters and Essential Governing Documents 3. Virginia, First Settled 1607 4. Massachusetts Bay, 1630 5. Maryland, 1634 6. Connecticut, 1636 7. Rhode Island, 1637 8. New York, 1663 9. New Jersey 10. Carolinas, 1664 11. New Hampshire, 1679 12. Pennsylvania, 1680-1681 Part III: Consolidation of Colonies and Resistance: Dominion Status, 1685-1689 13. Dominion of New England 14. Parliament of England's Response to the Glorious Revolution of 1688/89 Part IV: Governmental Developments During the Eighteenth Century 15. Virginia 16. Massachusetts Bay 17. Maryland 18. Connecticut 19. Rhode Island 20. New York 21. New Jersey 22. South Carolina 23. North Carolina 24. New Hampshire 25. Pennsylvania 26. Delaware 27. Georgia Part V: Essays on Governanace and Defense of Colonial Government 28. Overviews of Colonial Governance 29. Defenses of Colonial Governance Part VI: Plans for Unity, Divided Colonies, and United Independence 30. Unity Proposed and Deferred 31. Internal Division 32. Toward Independence and Unity Volume III Introduction: Governance in the Confederation Period, 1776-1787 Part VII: The First State Constitutions: Debates, Adoptions, and Amendments 33. New Hampshire, January 5, 1776 34. South Carolina, March 26, 1776 35. Virginia, June 29, 1776 36. New Jersey, July 2, 1776 37. Delaware, September 11, 1776 38. Pennsylvania, September 28, 1776 39. Connecticut and Rhode Island 40. Maryland, November 11, 1776 41. North Carolina, December 18, 1776 42. Georgia, February 5, 1777 43. New York, April 20, 1777 44. Vermont, July 8, 1777 45. Massachusetts, June 16, 1780 Part VIII: The Articles of Confederation: Proposed, Debated, and Ratified 46. Drafts of the Articles of Confederation and Discussion in the Continental Congress 47. The States and Ratification of the Articles of Confederation Part IX: Continental Congress as the National Government 48. Congress at Work and Changes Made in Governance, 1776-1787 49. Criticism and Defense of Congress Under the Articles Afterword: The Meaning of Governance in America Essay on Sources Consulted Index

America's Founding Charters authoritatively assembles 260 documents on the origins, developments and growth, and defenses of colonial governance. The only such comprehensive title in print, it covers governance from founding to revolution (1578-1787). Although intended to illustrate how and even why our system of governance has developed the way it has (rather than Colonial social developments or growing political divisions), the work nonetheless demonstrates the internal discord of the time. All three volumes are arranged chronologically; chapters and subchapters are placed in historical context with numerous 50-500-word commentaries….Well indexed, with worthwhile sources cited, this set will be useful to universities with collections/special collections concerning Colonial America. Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers.

Collects all of the major documents, with commentary, pertaining to the structure, formation, and functioning of political system in colonial and revolutionary America. Documents range from Royal charters establishing colonial claims, sermons that question or bolster the established order, pamphlets, State constitutions, debates over the make up of Congress and the Articles of Confederation, and the like.