The Constitutional Sources Project (ConSource) is revolutionizing the way people interact with history by democratizing access to source materials of the U.S. Constitution—letters, journals, newspapers, articles, speeches, and other first-hand records—so that any citizen can research and learn from the document’s rich intellectual history. The countless letters, speeches and journals of the Framer
s and later Amenders of the Constitution are housed in hundreds of libraries and archives, as well as in private collections, throughout the United States and Europe. These documents together make the “best” history of our Constitution and its amendment over time. Yet many of these documents are virtually inaccessible to most of us, whether a fourth grader or a Supreme Court Justice. Even diligent researchers cannot gain access to all of them. As a result, far too many Americans lack an understanding of the ideas that influenced the Framers, many of which still lie at the root of current conversations and debates concerning our government and our laws. To address this lack of access, ConSource.org is building the preeminent online resource for Constitutional research and education. Continually expanding in scope, it provides free public access to what is fast becoming the world’s most comprehensive online library of source documents related to the U.S. It is not enough to merely provide access to source documents. It is also necessary to provide the right tools to navigate the pages of history. To this end, the ConSource library includes a vibrant and growing cross-reference database that connects modern legal and political issues to our nation’s history. ConSource is also using the latest technology to create unique research communities tailored to meet the specific needs of scholars and authors, legal practitioners and government officials, educators and students, and the general public. ConSource invites all of its users to create learning environments that fit their individualized research needs while allowing for collaboration with others. By connecting individuals to and facilitating discussion around the diverse ideas and documents that established the United States and have informed our progress, ConSource ensures that future generations will understand the principles of liberty espoused by the Declaration of Independence and enabled by the Constitution and its Amendments.
