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Documents that Changed the World
(or in some cases, changing the world, not for the better)

Please note: The wording in following documents HAS NOT been edited in any way.  We have highlighted especially significant points, and linked complex words to Dictionary.com or other resources to enhance the educational value of studying these documents.  

The Magna Carta, 1215

The Mayflower Compact, November 11, 1620

English Bill of Rights, 1689

The Virginia Declaration of Rights, June 12, 1776

The Declaration of Independence, June 28, 1776

The ORIGINAL Declaration of Independence by Thomas Paine

Picture of the Original Declaration (370k JPG format)

Articles of Confederation, 1777

The Constitution of the United States of America, 1787
(the original, un- "living" one)

French Declaration on the Rights of Man, August 26, 1789

The Amendments to the Constitution, September 28, 1789

The Communist Manifesto, 1848

A Layman's Look At "The Communist Manifesto"

Secular Humanist Documents
Humanist Manifesto I, II, Statement on the Family, etc

The CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 24, 1945

Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly December 10, 1948

Convention on the Rights of the Child
Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by 
General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989
entry into force
2 September 1990, in accordance with article 49

On February 16, 1995 US Ambassador Madeleine Albright signed it
STILL UNRATIFIED BY THE UNITED STATES
AND WE WANT IT TO STAY THAT WAY

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