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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
This document illustrated the concepts of King John accepting that his will was no longer arbitrary. Thus limiting his power and protecting the rights of the English people -
The Petition of Right
This statement illustrates rights and liberties of the common man as opposed to the prerogatives of the crown and expresses many of the ideals that later led to the American Revolution. -
The Ball Starts Rolling
The Continental Congress adopts the final draft of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. -
Virginia Ordinance of Religous Freedom
Written by Thomas Jefferson stating, “No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever.” 1786
The Virginia legislature adopts the Ordinance of Religious Freedom, which prohibited harassment based on religious differences. -
Congress passes the Northwest Ordinance.
Enables law establishing government guidelines for colonization of new territory, it also provides that “religion, morality and knowledge being necessary also to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” -
Ratifying the Bill of Rights
Congress approved twelve articles of amendment to the Constitution and submitted them to the states for ratification. Virginia becomes the 11th state to approve the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, thereby ratifying the Bill of Rights. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
President John Adams oversees the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts. Thus, Thomas Jefferson introduces the “Kentucky Resolution” and James Madison issues the “Virginia Resolution” to give states the power to determine the constitutionality of the Alien and Sedition Acts. -
"On Liberty"
John Stuart Mill publishes the essay “On Liberty.” The essay expands John Milton’s argument that if speech is free and the search for knowledge unfettered, then eventually the truth will rise to the surface. -
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified
The amendment, in part, 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.” -
Fighting Words
In Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, the Court defines “fighting words” as “those which by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of peace.” The Court states that such words are “no essential part of any exposition of ideas, and are of such slight social value as a step to truth that any benefit that may be derived from them is clearly outweighed by the social i -
Tinker v. Des Moines
The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District that Iowa public school officials violated the FirstAmendment rights of several students by suspending them for wearing black armbands to protest U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The Court also deemed that school officials may not censor student self expression unless they can reasonably forecast that the expression will cause a substantial disruption. -
Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association
Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association,
In Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that video games are a form of speech protected by the First Amendment. The Court holds California’s law restricting the sale/rental of violent video games to minors is unconstitutional.
