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Constituion is Adopted
A delegation is held to draft and adopt the first american Constitution -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is proposed to the Constitutional convention, allowing more states to ratify the constitution without the fear of a overpowerful federal governement -
Alien & Sedition Act
John Adams passes the Alien & Sedition Act of 1798 limiting the free speech of citizens under the authority that Anti-Government speech is a Federal crime -
Gag Rule
House of Representatives imposes a Gag Rule to stop Anti-Slavery proposals -
Lincoln and the press
Lincoln arrests multiple newspaper editors for publishing forged presidential speeches -
Ratification of the 14th Amendment
Congress ratifies the 14th Amendment, that imposes the bill of rights upon states, so that no state may make laws to impose on citizens civil liberties -
Espionage Act of 1917
Makes it a federal crime to insight disloyalty or anti-war sentiments -
Sedition act of 1918
Congress passes the Sedition act of 1918, allowing the government to prosecute any anti-war or anti-governement sentiment during WWI -
Schenk v U.S
Supreme court decides on a case establishing "clear and present danger" rule -
Abrahms v U.S
Five citizens charged under the espionage act for creatign and distributing paphlets that contained anti-war sentiments -
ACLU
Roger Baldwin creates the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) -
Scopes monkey trial
John thomas scopes convicted of breaking tennesse law prohibiting teaching the theory of evolution in public school -
Stromberg v California
First court case to set precident for symbolic expression -
chaplinsky v New Hampshire
supreme court defines "fighting words" as not included in the 1st amendment -