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The British colonists declared their independence from Great Britain and cited their grievances, including not being able to criticize their government without punishment.
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Croswell was arrested for libel for printing a story criticizing the president in his newspaper. His lawyer argued that truth should be a defense for libel, and although he was still convicted, the state of New York changed its law to allow truth as a defense against libel.
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The court ruled that the government has a right to limit an individual's first amendment right during wartime or national chaos.
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The court decided that the first amendment does not protect "fighting words" or statements that cause an "immediate breach of peace" or an injury.
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The court ruled that it was unconstitutional to force students and teachers to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at school as it violates their right to freedom of speech.
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Student's right to protest political views while at school are protected under the first amendment after students were penalized for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War.
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The court ruled that a threat to national security was not a reason to ban the publication of classified documents about the Vietnam War (the Pentagon Papers).
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The court ruled that a school district could not remove books from school libraries with content they did not agree with as it violates the freedom of speech.
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The court ruled that a school has the right to censor school-sponsored student led newspapers because they are a part of the school's curriculum.
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Burning an American flag as a symbol of protest was ruled as protected under the first amendment.
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A ban on burning crosses was found unconstitutional as it violates the 1st amendment, unless the burning of the cross is meant to intimidate or threaten another.
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The Court ruled that a North Carolina law that prohibited registered sex offenders from using social media violates the First Amendment as social media is widely used today.
