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Petition of Right
What came from the 1628 English legal reform movement was an important document that stated the rights and liberties of the common man. -
John Lockes letter concerning Toleration
It provided the philosophical basis for George Mason’s Article Sixteen of the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776 Mason’s proposal provides that “all Men should enjoy the fullest toleration in the exercise of religion.” -
Start of freedom of press
New York publisher John Peter Zenger is tried for libel after publishing criticism of the Royal Governor of New York. Zenger is defended by Andrew Hamilton and acquitted. His trial establishes the principle that truth is a defense to libel and that a jury may determine whether a publication is defamatory or seditious. -
The Federalist
Originally published in New York newspapers as The Federalist and widely reprinted in newspapers throughout the U.S., The Federalist Papers are a unique collection of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay urging ratification of the Constitution. In Federalist No. 84, Alexander Hamilton writes on the subject of the liberty of the press, declaring that “the liberty of the press shall be inviolably preserved.” -
Tennessee freedom of religion
During Tennessee’s constitutional convention, Andrew Jackson opposes, and plays a prominent role in defeating, a proposal requiring a profession of faith by all officeholders. -
Sedition Act of 1798
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. -
Chicago Times and Burnside
Gen. Ambrose Burnside of the Union Army orders the suspension of the publication of the Chicago Times on account of repeated expression of disloyal and incendiary sentiments. President Lincoln rescinds Burnside’s order three days later. -
First free press case
In Patterson v Colorado the US Supreme Court determines it does not have jurisdiction to review the contempt conviction of US senator & Denver newspaper publisher Thomas Patterson for article & a cartoon that criticize the state suprem court Leaving undecided the question of whether First Amendment guarantees are applicable to the states via the 14 Amendment the Court holds that the freespeech & press guarantees only guard against prior restrain and do not prevent subsequent punishment -
Gitlow v. New York
In Gitlow v. New York, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds under the New York criminal anarchy statute Benjamin Gitlow’s conviction for writing and distributing “The Left Wing Manifesto.” The Court concludes, however, that the free-speech clause of the First Amendment applies to the states through the due-process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. -
Scopes trial
The “Scopes Monkey Trial” occurs in Dayton, Tenn. School-teacher John Thomas Scopes is found guilty of violating a Tennessee law which prohibits teaching the theory of evolution in public schools. The case pits famed orator William Jennings Bryan against defense attorney Clarence Darrow. -
Near v. Minnesota
In Near v. Minnesota, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidates a permanent injunction against the publisher of The Saturday Press. The Court rules that the Minnesota statute granting state judges the power to enjoin as a nuisance any “malicious, scandalous and defamatory newspaper, magazine or other periodical” is “the essence of censorship.” The Court concluded that the primary aim of the First Amendment was to prevent prior restraints of the press. -
Them's fighting words
The US Supreme Court determines fighting words are not protected by the First Amendment Chaplinsky v New Hampshire the Court defines fighting words as those which by their very speech inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of peace The Court states that such words are no needed part of any exposition of ideas and are of such slight social value as a step to truth that any good that may be taken from them is clearly outweighed by the social interest in order and morality
