Primary Sources on the American Revolution

The Architect of the Capitol

In 1776, a year after anti-British hostility had erupted into war, the leaders of the American Colonies declared independence, forming a country based on revolutionary republican ideals. Over the next five years, the Americans, with the aid of France, defeated British forces in the Revolutionary War, forcing Britain to recognize the sovereignty of the United States in 1783.

Primary sources such as letters, diaries, contemporary news stories, and government documents are essential for in-depth research into the American Revolution.

American Memory section has many primary source collections, which include books, manuscripts, documents and journals of the Continental Congress, maps and photographs.

is a collection of rare pamphlets, letters, newspaper articles and other rare documents from 1774-6 originally assembled by 19th century printer Peter Force and published in a nine-volume set. Northern Illinois University Libraries is digitizing the collection. has a collection of American and British spy letters. It includes stories about the letters, maps of the routes they traveled, and biographies of those who sent and received the letters. features over 22, 000 letters, journals, accounts and other documents written by British officers in North America.