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1215
Year 1215, the Signing of the Magna Carta
In year 1215, English King John had been abusing his power, and as a result, caused the nobles and ordinary citizens to revolt. This revolt led King John to lay the frame for a legal system, and establish that nobody, even the king, is above the law.This legal framework is known as the Magna Carta, or Great Charter. -
Year 1689, John Locke proposes Religious Freedom
During the year 1689, John Locke wrote the Letter Concerning Toleration. It provides the philosophical basis for George Mason’s proposed Article Sixteen of the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776, This article states the principle that all men should be free to follow any religion they choose. This is an event that shapes our first amendment today, as the statement for religious freedom still exists today. -
Year 1776, The First Declaration of Independence Within the States
In 1776, Virginia drafted and published its declaration of independence. This is important because Virginia's Declaration of Independence paved the way for national independence and human liberties. -
July 4th, 1776, the Birth of a Free Nation
On July 4th, 1776, Congress publishes the final draft for its Declaration of Independence from Britain. With this, the United States of America is born. This event is important because it ultimately created our country as we know it, and established independence and freedom. -
Year 1777, Religious Freedom is Established
Religious Freedom becomes established in 1777 when Thomas Jefferson finishes the final draft of the Virginia State Bill of Religious Freedom. This establishes total religious freedom for the people, and foreshadowed a main part of our first amendment today. -
Year 1791, the Bill of Rights is Ratified
In 1791, Virginia becomes the eleventh state to implement the Bill of Rights, therefore ratifying it This event establishes the ratification of the Bill of Rights, and marks the year that the article became an official part of the national constitution. -
Year 1801, The Sedition Acts Expire
In 1801, the Sedition Acts expire, and all jailed persons convicted of uttering false or demeaning things of the government are pardoned. This is a huge turning point in our society that defined and protected our freedom of speech, even if what we say goes against our government. -
Year 1863, Lincoln Rescinds Burnside's Ban on the Chicago Times
In 1863, a Union General by the name of Ambrose Burnside orders the suspension of the Chicago Times on the grounds of incendiary statements. Three days later, however, President Lincoln rescinds this order. This is important because it exhibits the duty of the President to defend free speech and the Constitution.
(It was also important because Burnside had some pretty incredible sideburns, as you can see in the picture) -
Year 1921, Congress Repeals the Sedition Acts
The Sedition Acts during the 1910's and 1921 were acts put in place by the government which prohibited any written or spoken criticism of the US government, the Constitution, or the flag. In 1921, however, Congress repealed these acts, again illustrating the duty of the government to preserve the freedom of speech among its people. -
Year 1939, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Connecticut Finally Ratify the Bill of Rights
In 1939, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Connecticut finally ratify the bill of rights, almost a century and a half later.The three states initially saw the Bill of Rights as needed, but later, they found that the free speech of the people was something in high demand. -
Year 1943, The US Supreme Court Rules That a Virginia Requirement to Salute the Flag is Unconstitutional
A court case during 1943 concludes with the statement that a Virginia law requiring citizens to salute the flag as unconstitutional. This illustrates that even though we should salute our own flag, any citizen has the right to chose not to. Complete freedom of speech is almost here in America. -
Year 2000, A Santa Fe School's Student-initiated Prayers at Football Games are Ruled Unconstitutional
Here's one from the year I was born. In 2000, the US Supreme Court ruled that a Santa Fe school's practice of student-led, student-initiated prayers was a violation of the establishment clause. Even though people are free to worship their own religion, this practice was ruled unconstitutional due to the fact that it was held in a public school. This is interesting because even though the first amendment protects free speech, limitations such as these bar religion in such places.
