Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

The Oyez Project: Bigelow v. Virginia (1975)

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief overview of the Bigelow v. Virginia (1975) Supreme Court case.
Primary
Boston College

Boston College: Schenck v. United States

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the decision of this landmark Supreme Court decision involving the 1917 Espionage Act Schenck v. United States (1919).
Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Dennis vs. United States

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief summary of Dennis v. United States, a First Amendment case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1951 involving limits to the freedom of speech. Includes portraits of the justices on the court of the time and information about how...
Article
The Washington Post

Washington Post: With Protest, Nfl Player Is Exercising His Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
The San Francisco 49ers backup QB, Colin Kaepernick, is making waves with his knee during the National Anthem.
Activity
Other

Us Courts: First Amendment Activities

For Students 9th - 10th
Activities for students that make learning about the 1st Amendment relevant by applying landmark Supreme Court cases to contemporary scenarios related to the five parts of the First Amendment and rights to freedom of religion, speech,...
Primary
This Nation

This nation.com: A Plea for Free Speech in Boston

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Douglass Archive provides the text of Frederick Douglass's speech "A Plea for Free Speech in Boston."
Handout
Social Studies Help Center

Social Studies Help Center: The Supreme Court as Defender of the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives you examples of court cases demonstrating how the Supreme Court upholds the constituion. It also includes links to further information.
Primary
George Mason University

George Mason University: The Espionage Act of May 16, 1918

For Students 9th - 10th
The original text of Section 3 of the Espionage Act of May 16, 1918 is provided at this site.
Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Aaron Swartz: Address at F2 C: Freedom to Connect Conference

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a speech by Aaron Swartz "How We Stopped SOPA" delivered on May 21, 2012, at the Freedom to Connect Confence. He explains their efforts to stop the passage of the COICA: The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeit Act. It...
Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

C3 Teachers: Inquiries: First Amendment

For Teachers 12th
A learning module on the First Amendment. It includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Students explore how the First Amendment applies in the...
Primary
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: American Exp: Southern Response to Civil Rights Speech, 1948

For Students 9th - 10th
In response to Harry Truman's views of civil rights, a Democrat from Mississippi voices his displeasure in the concept of a Civil Rights Movementto grant equal freedoms to all citizens of the United States.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the 1963 protest that culminated with Dr. Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech.
Primary
University of Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts: Phillip Deere Speech

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the full text of a speech made by Phillip Deere that exemplifies his spiritual beliefs and is a call for the respect of all Native Americans. In this inspirational speech he advocates freedom of all Native Americans.
Website
Other

First Amendment Center

For Students 9th - 10th
This First Amendment site, partly news and partly background, contains information related to all the aspects of the freedoms outlined in the First Amendment.
Website
University of Missouri

Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Regulation of Fighting Words and Hate Speech

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the constitutional conflict regarding the question of whether the first amendment limits the government's ability to regulate fighting words or hateful speech? This source contains background information and links to historical...
Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: Schenck v. United States (1919)

For Students 9th - 10th
This U.S. Supreme Court case established the famous "clear and present danger" doctrine by dealing with the issue of freedom of speech. This resource provides an abstract containing a summary, a link to the full text of the decision, and...
Article
Other

Freedom Forum: First Amendment Struggles & Triumphs

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how the First Amendment serves citizens in real life by reading about Daniel Ellsberg, Mary Beth Tinker, and Alton T. Lemon, all of whom were principal litigants in landmark Supreme Court cases regarding the freedom of expression.
Activity
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: The Supreme Court: Landmark Cases: Schenck v. u.s. (1919)

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS offers a summary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Schenck v. U.S. which dealt with when an individual's free speech rights under the First Amendment presented a "clear and present danger." This case has since been overturned.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Schenck v. United States

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia entry summarizes the landmark Supreme Court case of Schenck v. United States, which pitted the right of free speech against the 1917 Espionage Act.
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: U S. Constitution: Annotation 18: First Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about the boundaries of seditious speech and the permissibility of governmental measures which are directly concerned with the content of expression.
Activity
Other

Common Sense Americanism: Schenck v. United States

For Students 9th - 10th
This summary provides the background for Schenck v. United States, a World War I-era Supreme Court case involving free speech. Schenck is an example of what can happen to basic constitutional rights in time of war.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Online News Hour: Virtual Victory?

For Students 9th - 10th
Discussion of the implications of the Supreme Court ruling against the constitutionality of the Communications Decency Act, including give and take on the meaning of the decision for children. Includes transcript of discussion, and link...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Foreign War and Domestic Freedom: (Civil Liberties Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan that directs students to review the concept of civil liberties and to examine examples from American history wherein rights were restricted. They will investigate key arguments between those who seek to restrict liberties...
Primary
University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota Human Rights Library: "The Four Freedoms"

For Students 9th - 10th
In his pivotal inaugural address in January 1941, FDR readies the nations for what he sees as our inevitable involvement in WWII. Read the full text of this infamous speech to understand the nation's mindset at this point in history.

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