First Amendment and Free Speech

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This paper will examine the first amendment’s right to free speech based on three different Supreme Court cases and how there are varying examples of free speech. In the case of Snyder v. Phelps, Snyder sued Phelps, the Westboro Baptist Church, for intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy by intrusion upon seclusion, and conspiracy because the church set-up protest outside of his military son’s funeral service (Chen et al., 2010). Another side of free speech involves a case which allow schools to restrict speech that is promoting illegal drug use. To examine this view this paper will look at the case of Morse v. Frederick. Lastly, this paper will look into the case of Texas v. Johnson. At the end of a protesting march Johnson burned an American flag. The research for this paper will allow the reader to examine some of the different ways that free speech can be expressed, to what extent it may or may not be expressed and possibly where free speech may or may not be prohibited. America is a free a nation with a Bill of Rights that provides every citizen of this country the freedom and protection of the inalienable rights granted to them. However, there are certain actions that have stirred controversy as to how far those protections and freedoms can be stretched. Throughout history there have been numerous cases involving the Bill of Rights and the amount of freedom and or protection granted by each one. The First Amendment, the protection of free speech, has garnered much attention due to the increasingly negative and violent expressions America has come to know. The morality and public decency that Americans used to hold dear has been lost. In a world of constant input, Americans have becom... ... middle of paper ... .... doi:10 Supreme Court Schoedel III, R. C. (2012). Morse v. Frederick: Tinkering with School Speech: Can Five Years of Inconsistent Interpretation Yield a Hybrid Content-Effects-Based Approach to School Speech as a Tool for the Prevention of School Violence?. Brigham Young University Law Review, 2012(5), 1633-1664. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.wnc.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=85445691&login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site Summary of the Court Case. (Cover story). (1989). Congressional Digest, 68(8/9), 194-224. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.wnc.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=8910300671&login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. (2013). Snyder v. Phelps. Retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2010-2019/2010/2010_09_751.

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