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The Enlightenment Period
The enlightenment period, which was from around 1685 to around 1815 was a time where European philosophers such as John Locke transformed European politics into a system based on reason. These ideals were later taken as inspiration by Thomas Jefferson, and passed onto James Madison in the creation of the first amendment. -
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First Amendment
This time period consists of events leading up to the first amendment, the creation of the first amendment, and events inculding the frist amendment. -
The American Revolution
The American Revolution was from 1775 to 1783 and was the start of the inspiration behind the first amendment. The American colonists were very restricted by the British government in their religion, and speech, and the Americans fought for these rights in the revolution, and so they wanted something to protect these rights as much as possible. -
Creation of the U.S. Constitution
The first amendment is part of the U.S. constitution, so obviously the creation of this document has a lot to do with the first amendment. The constitution was created on September 17, 1787. The constitution laid a base or a foundation that the first amendment could be built on top of. -
Proposal of the First Amendment
The first amendment was first proposed by James Madison on June 8, 1789 to the House of Representatives. Originally Madison proposed twelve, but in the end ten were ratified including the first amendment. -
Ratification of the First Amendment
After the U.S. constitution was created, the first amendment was ratified, or approved, into the constitution on December 15, 1791, along with the nine other amendments called the Bill of Rights. The first amendment includes the freedom of religion, speech, the right to assemble peacefully, and the petition of the government. -
Braunfeld vs. Brown
The case of Braunfeld vs. Brown was a case regarding the freedom of religion in the first amendment. This case looked at weather the, “Blu Law” in Pennsylvania, which permitted certain stores to be open on Sunday, was a violation of free religious exercise. They thought that since Jewish people had to close down during Sunday because it was apart of their faith, that it was an economical disadvantage based on religion. The case was ruled as not a violation of the first amendment. -
Bethel School District vs. Fraser
The Bethel School District vs. Fraser case in 1968 concerned a teenage boy and his public school. Fraser while giving a speech talked about not school appropriate things, such as sexual metaphors. His speech then started chaos in the assembly. He was suspended and was banned from speaking at his graduation, and in return he sued the school. The supreme court ruled this case in the school’s favor saying that the first amendment can not stop the school from disciplining their students. -
Tinker vs. Des Moines ISD
The Tinker vs. Des Moines ISD case in 1969 was a case that involved a couple of teenagers who wore a black armband to protest the Vietnam War, and as a result they were suspended. The students sued the school for the violation of their rights, and they won the case, but this case also provided more clarity on the first amendment and the rights of it. For example the Tinker Test was created to help schools distinguish when students rights are being used and when they were being abused. -
Vietnam War Protest
One example regarding the right to protest part of the first amendment was during the Vietnam war. Many Americans gathered to protest this war in Washington DC on November 15,1969. Protesting this war gave Americans more love and appreciation for the first amendment. -
Hazelwood ISD vs. Kuhlmeier
The Hazelwood ISD vs. Kuhlmeier case was about
a student newspaper that had addressed some controversial topics. The school removed those articles, and in return the students sued them for violating their rights. The decision was in favor of the school, but this case helped to create a better understanding of the school's rights to intervene with student opinions. As long as the intervening is backed up by education and the well being of students, the amendment can be violated. -
Iraq War Protests
Another example of how the first amendment allows for change and impact, were the protests against the Iraq War in many large cities across America on February 15-16th, 2003. These protests allow for the passion and usability of the first amendment to thrive and to become more relevant. -
Morse vs. Frederick
The Morse vs. Frederick case was a case about a high school student that held up a banner promoting drugs during a school event. The principle (Morse) confiscated the banner, and suspended the student. This led to the student suing the school for the violation of his rights. The school won the case, and established more clarity regarding the first amendment. If what a student is saying contradicts the school’s policies, such as an anti-drug policy, the school can control and intervene. -
Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting
An example of the right to petition would be after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which left many dead, and sparked many Americans to create petitions regarding guns, and the safety of them. These petitions fired so many Americans up that President Obama addressed them to the congress. This event made Americans more passionate about their rights of the first amendment because they were able to use them.
