The First Amendment – Yesterday and Today

History

After the Revolutionary War and the Establishment of an independent government, there were:

- No guarantees of Civil Liberties present

-- Smaller religious groups afraid of not being represented in Congress

-- Thomas Jefferson: Letter to Danbury Baptists

The Text

“Congress Shall Make No Law Respecting an Establishment of Religion, or Prohibiting the Free Exercise Thereof…”

The Text

“…Or Abridging the Freedom of Speech, or of the Press…”

The Text

“…Or of the Right of the People to Peaceably Assemble, and To Petition the Government For a Redress of Grievances.”

First Amendment Rights Today

Religious Makeup of the United States

“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.” – Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Danbury Baptists, 1802

First Amendment Rights Today

Freedom of Speech

-Even those examples that espouse hate and misinformation

Westboro Baptist Church

First Amendment Rights Today

Freedom of the Press

-The Pentagon Papers

-WikiLeaks?

Above: Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward (Center)Left: Julian Assange

First Amendment Rights Today

Right to Peaceably Assemble

“Free Speech Zones”

Picture Sources:

Signing of Constitution:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scene_at_the_Signing_of_the_Constitution_of_the_United_States.pngBill of Rights:http://answers.yourdictionary.com/history/government/why-was-the-bill-of-rights-written.htmlNewseum:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Newseum_5_Freedoms_1st_Amendment.jpgSt. Patrick’s Cathedral:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inside_St._Patrick%27s_Cathedral.jpgPress Conference:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20061011-5_p101106pm-112jpg-515h.jpgPew Forum Study:http://religions.pewforum.org/reportsWestboro Baptist Church:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Westboro_BC_03022010_RichmondVa.jpgWoodward and Bernstein:http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2005/06/02/national/02woodward2.ready.htmlJulian Assange:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Julian_Assange_%28Norway,_March_2010%29.jpgFree Speech Zone:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:First_amendment_zone2.jpg

Text Source:Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to the Danbury Baptists, 1802. http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html