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The State of Virginia
in 1771 The state of Virginia jails 50 Baptist preachers for preaching the Gospel. -
the Virginia Declaration of Rights is adopted
It is a document to proclaim the inherent rights of men, including the right to reform or abolish inadequate governments -
Declaration of Independence
s an important document in the history of the United States of America. It says that the Americans were no longer under British rule. Instead, the thirteen British colonies came together to become a new country. -
Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom
written in 1776 by Jefferson and Madison. Argued that the concept of compulsory religion is wrong, no forced religious worship or ministry and no discrimination on account of his opinions or belief but free to believe what they wish, and that these rights were natural rights of mankind. -
Sedition Act of 1798 expire
President Thomas Jefferson pardons all person convicted under the Act. The act had punished those who uttered or published “false, scandalous, and malicious” writings against the government. -
Patterson v. Colorado
Supreme Court case where man criticized the Colorado Supreme Court, committing seditious libel. Upheld his conviction because he was expressing views contrary to the public view and it might obstruct the administration of justice. -
Schenck v. U.S.
It was a case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court during World War I, Charles T. Schenck produced a pamphlet maintaining that the military draft was illegal, and was convicted under the Espionage Act of attempting to cause insubordination in the military and to obstruct recruiting. -
Debs v. U.S.
Debs gave a speech for which he was charged for violating espionage act. Court ruled it obstructed recruitment, and was not granted protection due to a 'clear and present danger'. -
Abrams v. U.S.
was a 7-2 decision of the United States Supreme Court involving the 1918 Amendment to the Espionage Act of 1917, which made it a criminal offense to urge curtailment of production of the materials necessary to the war against Germany with intent to hinder the progress of the war. -
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 interest in order and morality.” -
Roth v. United States
he U.S. Supreme Court determines that obscenity is a category of speech not protected by the First Amendment. In his opinion, Justice William Brennan writes: “Obscene material is material which deals with sex in a manner appealing to prurient interest.” He explains that the determination of whether material is obscene should be judged by “contemporary community standards.” -
Sedition Act
Sedition Act was passed to forbid spoken or printed criticism of the U.S. government, the Constitution, or the flag
