The First Amendment
Ashley Moye
August 31, 2012
3rd Block American Government/Civics
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
Purpose
• The First Amendment guarantees the five freedoms:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
practice any religion we want to
to speak freely
to assemble (meet)
to address the government (petition)
to publish newspapers, TV, radio, Internet (press)
http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/first_amendment
When did this happen? Why was this
amendment proposed? & Who proposed it?
• This amendment was written by James Madison
and ratified with the Bill of Rights on December
15, 1791.
• It was added to the Constitution to get the AntiFederalists to support the ratification of the
Constitution.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcri
pt.html
Civics Today: Citizenship, Economics, & You
http://www.usconstitution.net/constamnotes.html
Where did this issue take place?
• This was an issue throughout the original 13
colonies. The Anti-federalists were concerned that
without a written list of rights, they would be subject
to the abuse they suffered under King George.
How was the First
Amendment passed?
• After passing both the House and the Senate, the Bill
of Rights was proposed to the state legislatures on
September 25, 1789. While there were originally
twelve amendments proposed to the state legislatures
only ten gained the approval of two thirds of the
state legislatures. Virginia was the 10th state to ratify
the ten amendments giving the Constitution.
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=13
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bill-of-rights-is-finally-ratified
How does this affect American
culture?
The First Amendment is very important in our culture. It
guarantees our freedoms and rights to speak freely about
important issues in our society, worship according to our
beliefs, have a press free from censorship, have peaceful
assemblies, and petition the government.
The freedoms in the First Amendment are not unlimited.
You can not say or print lies that would harm another
person’s reputation. You also cannot say things that
would cause violence, encourage people to commit
crimes, or endanger our government.
Civics Today: Citizenship, Economics, & You
References
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
Civics Today: Citizenship, Economics, & You
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bill-of-rights-is-finally-ratified
http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/first_amendmenthttp:
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=13
http://www.usconstitution.net/constamnotes.html