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Mar 1, 1215
Magna Carta
The document was a series of written promises between the king and his subjects that he, the king, would govern England and deal with its people according to the customs of feudal law. Magna Carta was an attempt by the barons to stop a king – in this case John – abusing his power with the people of England suffering. -
Jailed for religion
Eighteen Baptists are jailed in Massachusetts for refusing to pay taxes that support the Congregational church. -
Freedom of Religion Bill
A religious freedom bill allows those with religious objections to certain activities to act in accordance with their beliefs without being punished by the government for doing so. -
Declaration of Independence
The formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain. An example of the Declaration of Independence was the document adopted at the Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776. -
The Federalist Papers
Originally published in New York newspapers as The Federalist and widely reprinted in newspapers throughout the U.S., The Federalist Papers are a unique collection of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay urging ratification of the Constitution. -
Bill of Rights
On Dec. 15, Virginia becomes the 11th state to approve the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, thereby ratifying the Bill of Rights. -
The Sedition Act
An Act of the United States Congress that extended the Espionage Act of 1917 to cover a broader range of offenses, notably speech and the expression of opinion that cast the government or the war effort in a negative light. -
Schenck Vs. United States
Schenck and others had been accused of urging draftees to oppose the draft and "not submit to intimidation." The court ruled that not all speech is protected, saying the now famous example of falsely crying "fire" in a crowded theatre. -
Abrams Vs. United States
Supreme court ruled in favor of individuals who threw pamphlets that criticised the government and thier involvment in WWI off of rooftops into crowds of people. -
Sedition Act Repealed
Congress repeals the Sedition Acts. -
Whitney Vs. California
A United States Supreme Court decision upholding the conviction of an individual who had engaged in speech that raised a threat to society. -
Invalid New York Law
The U.S. Supreme Court invalidates a New York law prohibiting the employment of public school and university teachers who belonged or had belonged to “subversive” groups such as the Communist Party.
