The First Amendment

The Magna Carta

Mar 1, 1215

Abuses by England’s King John cause a revolt by nobles, who compel him to recognize rights for both noblemen and ordinary Englishmen. This document, known as the Magna Carta, establishes the principle that no one, including the king or a lawmaker, is above the law, and establishes a framework for future documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.

The Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

The Continental Congress adopts the final draft of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.

Pardon of the Sedition act

Mar 5, 1801

Congress lets the Sedition Act of 1798 expire, and 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.

14th Amendment

Mar 5, 1868

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.”

Take 3 of Sedition Act

Mar 5, 1918

Congress passes the Sedition Act, which forbids spoken or printed criticism of the U.S. government, the Constitution or the flag.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Mar 5, 1920

Roger Baldwin and others start up a new organization dedicated to preserving civil liberties called the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Take 4: Secition Act

Mar 5, 1921

Congress repeals the Sedition Acts.

Smith Act ; Title I

Mar 5, 1940

Congress passes the Smith Act, Title I of the Alien Registration Act of 1940, which makes it a crime to advocate the violent overthrow of the government.

Censorship Office

Mar 5, 1941

Congress authorizes President Franklin D. Roosevelt to create the Office of Censorship.

New York Times v. United States

Mar 7, 1971

In New York Times v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court allows continued publication of the Pentagon Papers. The Court holds that the central purpose of the First Amendment is to “prohibit the widespread practice of governmental suppression of embarrassing information.” This case establishes that the press has almost absolute immunity from pre-publication restraints.

Eichman v. U.S. (Flag Protection Act)

Mar 5, 1990

The U.S. Supreme Court in U.S. v. Eichman invalidates the Flag Protection Act of 1989. The Court finds that the statute violates free speech.

Big Gay Dale's Big Gay Boatride

Mar 6, 2000

In Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that application of a public-accommodation law to force the Boy Scouts to accept a gay scoutmaster is a violation of the private organization’s freedom of association guaranteed by the First Amendment.