I previously reviewed an app from Clint Bagwell Consulting called Constitution for iPhone. That company has a few more reference texts for the iPhone, including one that the author calls Manual for the United States of America. I have a better name for it: Civics for a Buck.
This $0.99 app collects some of the great texts in U.S. History and related information, including:
- Declaration of Independence
- Articles of Confederation
- Articles of Confederation
- U.S. Constitution
- Federalist Papers
- Washington's Farewell Address
- Emancipation Proclamation
- Gettysburg Address
- United Nations Charter
- Censure of Joseph McCarthy
- 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
- Indian Bill of Rights
- 2001 Patriot Act
- List of U.S. Presidents
- List of U.S. States
- U.S. Flag Code
My law partner Katherine Mize recommended this one to me, pointing out that it is sometimes nice to have these texts at your fingertips to quote in a brief or in court. Time will tell how useful this is for me; the only document I see myself frequently using is the Constitution, and I already have the free version of Constitution for iPhone noted above. But the other documents included are undeniably important documents that play an important role in U.S. history, and I enjoyed looking at them. Also, the information contained in the lists of Presidents and States is quite comprehensive and may prove useful for solving a crossword puzzle or settling a bar bet. For example, for each President you get a picture, signature, dates in office, vice president, party, spouse, dates of birth and death, other offices held, nicknames and published works -- all stuff you could probably find in Wikipedia or elsewhere on the Ineternet, but now you have it in one easy to find place.
The application design is very nice and easy to use, and very similar to the Constitution for iPhone app. Some of the documents include scans of the original documents in two resolutions, which is a very nice touch.
If you are a U.S. citizen, you will probably enjoy this app, and it is well worth the price. Download Manual for the United States of America for $0.99 from iTunes by clicking this button: