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The U.S. Constitution was signed in 1789. It is the most important law of the country. The
First Amendment was added to the Constitution two years later. It is a law that protects
several freedoms. They are freedom of religion, speech, press, petition and assembly.
Freedom of petition means that people can tell the government what they want it to do.
Freedom of assembly is the right to march and protest.
Freedom Of Religion
The First Amendment does not allow an official religion in the U.S. This means that
everyone has a right to be whatever religion they want to be. The government cannot tell
people how to pray. It also cannot require prayer.
Public schools cannot hold prayer services. The government cannot give money to religious
schools.
Free speech is one of our most important freedoms. There are limits to free speech. Judges
have to decide what are these limits.
World War I was fought between 1914 and 1918. A man named Charles Schenck was
against the war. He gave out papers asking men to not fight. The government said Schenck
threatened the safety of the country. The Supreme Court agreed. It said free speech cannot
cause danger to the country.
1. Pure speech is written or spoken words. They express thoughts and ideas. The
government cannot limit these.
2. Speech-plus is words and actions. Protests are one example of this. Speech-plus is not as
protected as pure speech. Actions can be dangerous. Protesters may not block traffic or
hurt people.
3. Symbolic speech is visual action. These symbols show a person's point of view. Wearing
a black armband in school was used as a symbol of protest in the late 1960s. It was used to
protest the war in Vietnam. In the 1960s some people burned flags. They were protesting
the war in Vietnam. In 1989, the Supreme Court said that people can even burn an
American flag. The media also has freedom of speech. In most cases, the government
cannot stop the media from printing information. It can only do this if the information will
cause danger to the country.
Freedom of assembly and petition are also rights. There are limits to this, though. A
protest cannot stop traffic. It also cannot harm peace and quiet.
The First Amendment is very important and powerful. It protects freedom of religion,
speech, press, assembly and petition.