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Ordinance of Religious Freedom
Stopped the harassment of people based on their personal religious beliefs. This protected people who used their 1st amendment right of religious freedom. -
Jackson's Opposition
At Tennessee's constitutional convention Andrew Jackson stood up for religious freedom and opposed a required profession of faith by all officeholders. The reason it was a big deal is because it wouldn't allow people who weren't christian to hold an office. -
"On Liberty"
John Stuart Mill published the essay "On Liberty." It poses the argument that if speech is free and research goes unhindered then eventually the truth will be brought to the public. This is an important event because it shows why freedom of speech is needed. -
Espionage Act
In 1917 the Espionage Act was passed to protect the armed forces from being slandered. This was important because it could have stopped people from joining the forces. -
Sedition Act
The Sedition Act was passed in 1918 and it prevented spoken or printed criticism of the U.S. government, the Constitution or the flag. This was very important because it gave censorship and protected the government from criticism whether it was right or wrong. -
Debs v. U.S.
The Supreme Court upholds the conviction of a presidential candidate, Eugene V. Debs for opposing the U.S. involvement in World War I. -
Scopes Trial
Teacher John Thomas Scopes was found guilty of teaching evolution in the Tennessee public school system. -
Stromberg v. California
A member of the Young Communist League, Yetta Stromberg's conviction, "opposing the United States government" by flying a red flag, was reversed under the clause that freedom of speech extended to nonverbal and symbolic expression. -
Thornhill v. Alabama
U.S. puts down Alabama state law about loitering and picketing. The court decided that to stop the picketing and loitering without just cause. -
Burstyn v. United States
U.S. Supreme Court decides that motion pictures are included in the First Amendment. -
Pickering v. Board of Education
Marvin Pickering, a public school teacher in Illinois. He was fired for writing a letter to the local newspaper. -
Brandenburg v. Ohio
A leader of the KKK was convicted for a speech at a rally. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the speech was not protected under the First Amendment.
