Resources

Teaching Guide for Parents and Teachers - download here

When the U.S. Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, it did not contain the essential freedoms outlined in the Bill of Rights. That was because so many of the Framers viewed their inclusion as unnecessary. However, after vigorous debate, the Bill of Rights was adopted. The first freedoms guaranteed in this historic document were articulated in the 45 words written by James Madison that we have come to know as the First Amendment. The Bill of Rights — the first 10 amendments to the Constitution — went into effect on December 15, 1791, when the state of Virginia ratified it, giving the bill the majority of ratifying states required to protect citizens from the power of the federal government.

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.

Some resources for learning more about the First Amendment and free speech issues as they arise today.

Student Press Law Center: https://splc.org/

Newseum:  https://newseumed.org/

Committee to Protect Journalists: https://cpj.org/

National Endowment for the Humanities: https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plans/first-amendment-whats-fair-free-country

Lesson Planet: https://www.lessonplanet.com/teachers/using-the-newspaper-to-teach-the-five-freedoms-of-the-first-amendment

National Constitution Center - We the Civics Kids - https://constitutioncenter.org/learn/educational-resources/we-the-civics-kids

iCivics - icivics.org