Founding Documents
The papers, speeches, and ideas that built the modern world.
Listen to This Collection
Hammurabi's Code
The first time anyone wrote 'eye for an eye' on a giant rock and said this is the law now. Carved into stone so nobody could argue.
Draco Writes the Laws
An Athenian writes laws so harsh that almost every crime is punishable by death. We still call brutal rules 'draconian' because of him.
The Magna Carta
Furious barons corner King John in a meadow and force him to sign away his absolute power. The first paper limit on a king. Ever.
Luther's 95 Theses
A German monk nails a list of complaints to a church door. Within a few years half of Europe has broken with Rome.
Machiavelli Writes The Prince
A fired Florentine bureaucrat writes a how-to manual for ruthless rulers, hoping to get his job back. Five centuries later it's still required reading.
The Declaration of Independence
Thirteen tiny colonies write a breakup letter to the world's biggest empire. 'All men are created equal' becomes a problem they don't fully solve.
The Monroe Doctrine
The young United States tells Europe to stay out of the entire Western Hemisphere. Bold for a country that can barely defend its own coast.
The Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln declares enslaved people in rebel states to be free. The war is no longer about preserving the Union. It's about ending slavery.
The Treaty of Versailles
The Allies blame Germany for everything and stick it with crippling reparations. One French marshal says: 'This is not peace. It is an armistice for 20 years.'
Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream'
On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, MLK delivers the most famous speech in American history. 250,000 people listen in silence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stories are in the Founding Documents collection?
The Founding Documents collection includes 10 stories: Hammurabi's Code, Draco Writes the Laws, The Magna Carta, Luther's 95 Theses, Machiavelli Writes The Prince, and 5 more. All available as immersive audio on History Tea.
Can I listen to Founding Documents stories for free?
Yes! All 10 stories in the Founding Documents collection are completely free to listen to on the History Tea app. Download on iOS and start listening today.
What time periods does Founding Documents cover?
The Founding Documents collection spans c. 1754 BCE, c. 621 BCE, 1215 CE, 1517 CE and more. Each story is a fresh, cinematic retelling with immersive narration.
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