-
Right to Petition and a Statement about Due Process
Massachusetts General Court adopts the first broad statement of American liberties, the Massachusetts Body of Liberties -
The First Charter of Rhode Island Grants Religious Freedom
The Royal Charter of 1663 granted by King Charles II allowed settlers in Rhode Island to govern their own colony and guaranteed their individual freedom of religion -
Jailed People for Refusing Taxes on Church
18 Baptists are put in jail in Massachusetts for refusing to pay taxes that support the Congregational church -
Virginias House of Burgesses Passes the Virginia Declaration of Rights
Proclaim the inherent rights of men, including the right to reform or abolish inadequate government. -
Final Draft of the Declaration of Independence
While this resolution was being discussed, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston , and Roger Sherman were appointed to draft a Declaration of Independence -
Virginia State Bill for Religious Freedom Draft
Thomas Jefferson completes his first draft of a Virginia state bill for religious freedom, No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever. The bill later becomes the famous Virginia Ordinance for Religious Freedom. -
11th state to approve 1st 10 amendments
On December 15, Virginia becomes the 11th state to approve the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, thereby ratifying the Bill of Rights -
Sedition Act
Thomas Jefferson pardons all person convicted under the act.The act had punished those who uttered or published false writings against the govenment -
On Liberty Essay
If speech is free and the search for knowedge then eventually the truth will rise to the surface. -
The 14th Amendment of the Constitution is Ratified
The amendment, requires that no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws -
American Civil Liberties Union
new organization dedicated to preseving civil liberties -
Gotlow v. New York
U.S. Supreme Court holds under the New York criminal anarchy statute Benjamin Gitlow’s conviction for writing The Left Wing Manifesto. The Court concludes, however, that the free-speech clause of the First Amendment applies to the states through the process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
