In striving to understand the philosophical foundations upon which the United State of America was built on, this collection of 14 primary documents, spanning a time from 1775-1865, is a tremendous tool. With such documents as "The Declaration of Independence", "The Constitution of the United States", inaugural addresses from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln - together the thoughts of these great men give the reader a clear view of some of the most important ideas surrounding the creation and preservation of The United States of America. ( )