Jennifer Tharp
Suvi Gluskin
Hannah Roberts
William Westlin

• The first ammendment , ratified in 1791, grants us the right to free speech.
• “Congress shall make no law …abridging the freedom of speech…” (Bill of Rights)
• There is currently much debate about the limits of free speech and our responsibility to protect this right.

• John Milton, a British scholar, in 1644, wrote
Areopagitica, a speech attacking censorship of authors.
• The French Revolution also included a free speech clause in the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.” (1789)
• 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts- The Sedition Act forbid negative statements about the President.
(violation of free speech.) (Mentin Virginia
Kentucky Resolution)
• During the Vietnam War, there were several
Supreme Court cases protecting the rights of protesters of the war.

• Google Books- Should Google Books be allowed to publish the works of authors without pay? This is a major current lawsuit.
• 2002- A high school student held a “bong hits for Jesus” sign outside his high school and was suspended. He lost his suit at Supreme Court.
• Facebook- Most of us have experienced free speech through our use of Facebook.
• A professor in Univ. Of Colorado was fired for an essay and court rules to reinstate him. (Feb. 18)

• Internet
• Democracy – Informed Decisions
• Hate Speech/Slander
• Freedom of Information – Correllary
•  Piracy

• Freedom of speech is a unique part of
American culture that many countries are still fighting for.
• We see examples of it every day through new technology such as YouTube and Twitter.
• Because the definition of free speech is constantly changing, the American people must continue to follow events so as to maintain this right.