Dover's Essential Documents of American history Volume I: From Colonial Times to the Civil War includes a broad selection of the most important founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation, and plenty of speeches, Supreme Court Decisions, acts and declarations of Congress, essays, letters, and more. More than 80 documents dating from 1606 to 1865 are included. Brief introductions provide historical context. 497 pages, softcover.