Handout
Siteseen

Siteseen: Government and Constitution: 1st Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
Short, simple summary with the full text of the 1st amendment of the Bill of Rights detailing freedom of religion, the freedom of the press, and freedom of expression in the Constitution.
Interactive
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Life Without the Bill of Rights?

For Students 9th - 10th
This a click-and-explore activity that puts you in control and ask you to consider how life would change without some of our most cherished freedoms. Life Without the Bill of Rights? invites you to understand the significance of your...
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.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Don't Know Much About Liberty

For Teachers 6th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in classifying and categorizing.
Website
US National Archives

Nara: Charters of Freedom

For Students 9th - 10th
National Archives exhibit presents selected pages of George Bush's State of the Union Address given January 31, 1990. Includes introductory essay on freedom.
Lesson Plan
Penguin Publishing

Penguin Random House: "Censorship: An Educator's Guide"

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Activities, writing prompts, points of discussion and some additional resources are offered here to help with teaching about free speech and censorship.
Handout
Wyzant

Wyzant: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

For Students 9th - 10th
Lesson briefly describes the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and includes links to recordings of the speeches made by prominent Civil Rights Leaders on that day.
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
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.
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.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How to Turn Protest Into Powerful Change

For Students 9th - 10th
We live in an age of protest. On campuses, in public squares, on streets and social media, protestors around the world are challenging the status quo. But while protest is often necessary, is it sufficient? Eric Liu outlines three...
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.
Primary
Claremont Institute

Founding.com: Calvin Coolidge

For Students 9th - 10th
Two speeches given by Calvin Coolidge. The first was in 1924 on the topic of religious freedom. The second was in 1926 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Website
University of Maryland

Voices of Democracy: John F. Kennedy, "Address: "The President and Press" 1961

For Students 9th - 10th
Read President John F. Kennedy's speech, "The President and the Press," which he delivered before the American Newspaper Publishers Association (ANPA) on April 27, 1961. In this speech, he attempted to explain and justify the Bay of Pigs...
Website
PBS

Pbs: God in America

For Students 9th - 10th
Site has much to offer on the topic of the 400-year history of religion and public life in America. At this point in time the full videos are available to watch for free. Topics include: American Scripture, God in the White House, Sacred...
Article
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: Webisode 14: Let Freedom Ring

For Students 9th - 10th
Series episode covers the civil rights movement and the struggle for equality in post-World War II America.
Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Cox v. New Hampshire (1941)

For Students 9th - 10th
Full opinion of the United States Supreme Court in the Cox v. New Hampshire case (1941).
Activity
Other

Student Press Law Center Legal Brief: Libel Law

For Students 9th - 10th
Excellent site for students that need to know more about libel laws. Includes a definition of libel, a process to go by in order to avoid a lawsuit, and your defense options if you happen to be involved in a lawsuit.
Primary
Other

Janet Reno vs. American Civil Liberties Union

For Students 9th - 10th
A complete transcript outlining the court case between Janet Reno, U.S. Attorney General, and the American Civil Liberties Union, in which the Communications Decency Act was declared unconstitutional.
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: Bigelow v. Virginia

For Students 9th - 10th
Complete syllabus and decision on the Supreme Court case Bigelow v. Virginia (1975).
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...
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,...
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.

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