America’s Founding Documents — Declaration of Independence + Constitution + Bill of Rights: Digital downloads in multiple sizes and formats

Downloadable, ready-to-print files for poster-size prints of the United States Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, as well as handouts that teachers and other educators can use to facilitate individual study and group discussion in classrooms and other settings. The files, which will be available for immediate download, include:

• Two formats, PDF and PNG, and three ratios or sizes, which can be resized to 16+ print sizes, and includes an accompanying classroom handout. (See images for more information. Note that the print of the Constitution is available only in the 2:3 ratio and is sized for printing at 24 by 36 inches. Resizing to other 2:3 sizes is possible but not recommended, since shrinking the print may make the text too small to read.)
• Full-size PDFs of the prints in CMYK, ready for inkjet or laser printing.
• PDFs with printer’s marks, perfect for professional offset printing.
• Fully embedded fonts so the files look perfect no matter where you view them.

This is in addition to the features of the prints themselves:

• The full text of the documents as transcribed by the National Archives and Records Administration.
• Beautifully typeset in easily readable, modern type.
• A unique, modern design that reflects the historic character of the document yet coordinates with other Great Documents prints.
• The print of the Declaration of Independence includes the names of the signers of the Declaration and their states, realigned to be more easily readable.
• The print of the Constitution includes explanatory notes that indicate the purpose of each article as well as the dates each amendment was passed by Congress and ratified by the states; footnotes that explain how each amendment altered the Constitution; italic type that indicates obsolete or superseded portions of text.
• The print of the Bill of Rights includes a description of the purpose of each of the ten amendments comprising the Bill of Rights.

The teacher’s handouts include these features:

1. A consistent, well-designed layout that makes incorporating the documents into lessons and assignments easy and helps students and teachers alike orient themselves quickly.
2. The document’s title, country of origin, and year written are clearly indicated.
3. Body text is set in easy-to-read 11-point type.
4. Lines of text are numbered for easy reference in classroom discussion.
5. A lined section on the right side of each page provides space for the reader to take notes. (These lines use college-ruled spacing.)
6. Pages are numbered to help readers keep the document in order.
7. The handouts are optimized for black-and-white printing, and the total ink coverage on the page has been reduced to save printer/photocopier ink/toner and lower printing costs. Where possible, handouts are an even number of pages — perfect for front-back printing.
8. Study helps, including explanatory headers and footnotes as well as brief introductions on some documents, are included. These are set in sans-serif type to distinguish them from the original or official text of the document.