Historical Documents

The rough draft of The Declaration of Independence written in June, 1776.
Jefferson’s “original Rough draught” of the Declaration of Independence
ERA 3: Revolution and the New Nation (1754–1820s)
A mother and daughter sit outside the Supreme Court
Brown v Board of Education of Topeka
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Puerto Ricans rally for civil rights outside City Hall in New York City.
Katzenbach v. Morgan
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Newspaper documenting the court case
Botiller v. Dominguez
ERA 6: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900), ERA 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890–1930)
Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Original Document of the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854
ERA 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)
Picture of Cesar Chavez
1984 Commonwealth Club Address
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
National Chicano Moratorium sign
National Chicano Moratorium
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's), ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Young Lords members with a sign
The Young Lords Organization
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's), ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Mexican female laborers engaged in pecan shelling
Pecan Shellers Strike
ERA 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929–1945)
Sierra Maestra Manifesto
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Picture of Mexican American students protesting
East Los Angeles Walkouts
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present), ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Plessy v. Ferguson decided judgement
Plessy v. Ferguson 1896
ERA 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890–1930)
Decision delivered by Chief Justice Earl Warren
Hernandez v. Texas
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Arizona v. United States
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Cesar Chaves with Robert Kennedy at the end of his fast
1968 Fasting Statement
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's), ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Tierra Amarilla Land Grant and Courthouse Raid
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Photo of the 1921 Supreme Court
Balzac v. Porto Rico
ERA 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890–1930)
The acquitted defendants in the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial reunite with their families.
People v. Zamora
ERA 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929–1945)
Mexican girls in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio ISD v. Rodriguez
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's), ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Young Mexican men stand outside a jail in Los Angeles, California, after police arrested them during the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots.
Zoot Suit Riots
ERA 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929–1945)
Latino Students Protesting Proposition 187
California's Proposition 187
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
John Paul Stevens, the author of the majority opinion
INS v. Cardoza-Fonseca
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Jovita Idar, shown in this picture, and her family helped organize this event
Meeting of the Mexicanist Congress
ERA 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890–1930)
Picture of Ernesto Miranda
Miranda v. Arizona
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Original document of Voting Rights Act to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment
Voting Rights Act 1965
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Cesar Chavez holding a NFWA sign
National Farm Workers Association
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Loving v. Virginia 1967
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
U.S. v. Brignoni-Ponce
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
President Johnson signing the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Picture of OAS's fifty-second Assembly in Lima, Peru
Organization of American States (OAS) Charter
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Declaration of the Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World
ERA 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890–1930), ERA 6: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900)
Supports of the Dream Act holding a Banner
Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM)
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Executive Order 9346
ERA 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929–1945)
United States v. Vaello Madero
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Mexican agricultural laborer top sugar beets near Stockton, California.
Bracero Program
ERA 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929–1945)
"Help the Guatemalans!" poster
American Baptist Churches v. Thornburgh
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Pro-DACA Protestors
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Picture of the Proclamation
Proclamation 3869
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Sylvia Mendez, one of the children at the center of this case.
Mendez v. Westminster
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Chinese Exclusion Act
ERA 6: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900)
President Reagan signing the Immigration Reform and Control Act
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Original Document of Former President Harry Turman's Executive order 9981
Executive Order 9981
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's)
Cover of El Plan de Santa Barbara
El Plan de Santa Barbara (Plan of Santa Barbara)
ERA 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970's), ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act 2021
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
The Plan of San Diego
ERA 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890–1930)
Land Grant Colleges and Universities as of 1890
Second Morrill Act 1890
ERA 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890–1930)
Temporary Protection Status (TPS)
ERA 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)
House proposing the 14th Amendment to the Constitution
Civil Rights Act 1866
ERA 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)

Historical Images

Man waiting in the colored-waiting room bus station in Durham, NC.
Jim Crow Era: Durham NC
ERA 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929–1945)