1st Amendment

Constitution Ratified

Jun 21, 1776

The United States Constitution is ratified with a recommendation from several states that a bill of rights be added to the Constitution as quickly as possible.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 7, 1776

Colonies were finally free from Great Britain .

Abrams v. United States

Nov 10, 1776

The Sedition Act made it illegal to "willfully utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the Constitution of the United States."

States

1787

The U.S. Constitution Is Adopted Into Law and Then Ratified by the States, September 17, 1787

Bill of Rights

1791

Virginia Approves the First 10 Amendments, Ratifying the Bill of Rights, December 15, 1791

First Amendment Ratified

Dec 15, 1791

First amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing that "Congress shall make no law .abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."

Tunis Wortman's Treatise on Free Speech

1800

Written in the wake of the controversy spawned by the Sedition Act of 1798, the treatise argues for a very broad right of free speech. In order to advance knowledge and promote the improvement of society, Wortman argues, people should be guaranteed the freedom to "reflect and communicate their sentiments upon every topic."

Schenck v. United States

Mar 3, 1919

which made it a felony to "cause, or attempt to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States

Smith Act

Jun 28, 1940

making it illegal to advocate, verbally or in print, the "desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States."

Chaplinksy v. New Hampshire

Mar 16, 1949

the United States Supreme Court holds that "fighting words," defined as "epithets likely to provoke the average person to retaliation," are not protected by the First Amendment

Engel v. Vitale

Jun 25, 1962

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that a state-composed, non-denominational prayer violates the the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment

Lloyd Corporation, Ltd. v. Tanner

Jun 22, 1972

Court rules that owners of a shopping center may bar anti-war activists from distributing leaflets at the center. The Court finds that citizens do not have a First Amendment right to express themselves on privately owned property.