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Independence Created
The Continental Congress adopts the final draft of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. -
Freedom of Religious Choice
1786
The Virginia legislature adopts the Ordinance of Religious Freedom, which effectively disestablished the Anglican Church as the official church and prohibited harassment based on religious differences. -
Constitution Adopted
The U.S. Constitution is adopted into law on Sept. 17 by the Federal Constitutional Convention -
Constitution Ratified
US Constitution ratified by the states on June 21, 1788. -
Bill of Rights Ratified
On Dec. 15, Virginia becomes the 11th state to approve the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, thereby ratifying the Bill of Rights. -
Sedition Act
1918
Congress passes the Sedition Act, which forbids spoken or printed criticism of the U.S. government, the Constitution or the flag. -
Congress repeals the Sedition Acts.
1921
Congress repeals the Sedition Acts. -
Freedom from Beliefs or Practices
In 1940, the West Virginia Board of Education issued regulations requiring every schoolchild to participate daily in a salute to the flag. The Barnette children, all members of the Jehovah's Witnesses, refused to participate and were expelled from school. The Supreme Court struck down the regulation on the grounds that the First Amendment barred any rule compelling an individual to salute the flag or participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. -
Freedom of Speech at School
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District (1969)
Students and teachers don't "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate," the Court said. The Court did not, however, grant students an unlimited right to self-expression. It said First Amendment guarantees must be balanced against a school's need to keep order: As long as an act of expression doesn't disrupt classwork or school activities or invade the rights of others. -
Restriction of Speech
Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444, 89 S.Ct. 1827, 23 L.Ed.2d. 430 (1969): The Supreme Court established the modern version of the "clear and present danger" doctrine, holding that states only could restrict speech that "is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action, and is likely to incite or produce such action." -
Religious Expression in Public Education
1995
President Clinton orders the Department of Education to send guidelines on religious expression to every public school district in the United States. -
Freedom of Choice, Freedom of Expression
2011
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 or rental of violent video games to minors is unconstitutional.
