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Paragrapgh on the meaning of the first amendment
First amendment analysis
The bill of rights first amendment analysis
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Multiple had argued whether or not this act was unconstitutional. Many believe because of itś going against to the first amendment, it was unconstitutional. “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”(Madison, 1789) . These amendments were made to protect our country and now the many who fought for those amendments, are going against them. The amendments did their job well of keeping peace and fairness between citizen’s rights, as many could tell by the acts of the citizens when those rights were taken away. The freedom of speech was an important factor to politics as they had realized later on. “They argued that in a representative …show more content…
With those political opinions, they could make knowledgeable decisions. The voices of citizens helped them with elections, debates, and political parties. One of our founding fathers, specifically the first one, put their outlook out into the void by stating “Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.” (Washington 1796). Washington saw this act coming and completely disagrees with it coming into action. As unconstitutional many may have found this act, it stayed into action until 1918. Another reason for the act to be enacted was the punishments to those whom were being tried. The very first republican that was tried for was Matthew Lyon for giving his opinion on their new president, John Adams. He accused Adams of having “an unbounded thirst for ridiculous pomp” (Lyon). None of which was a political statement, but a personal one. His view was towards who the president was, but not in the state of his actions depending on the country. Lyon was sentenced four months in jail and a $1,000 fine. While in jail, Matthew Lyon wrote ̈This sentence was unexpected to all my friends as well as myself, no
People died fighting for this idea of a free country with amazing rights, and now John Adams was threatening what they all fought for. Many people were very mad and took this hatred mentality towards Adams, because of the Alien and Sedition Acts, to the polls. “John Adams was vilified by the Republicans for not vetoing the Alien and Sedition Acts.” He had the chance to stop what Congress was putting forth, yet he did nothing. Whether his intentions were for the best and he had the best in mind, it does not matter. The American public in general took it as a very hostile move and this definitely did not help his second bid for the presidency. Some people believed action needed to be taken in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts. Jefferson and Madison wrote the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. These were two documents that basically stated that the states of Kentucky and Virginia saw the Alien and Sedition Acts that were approved by John Adams as unconstitutional. This was not good for Adams. “It really targeted the centralizing power of the Federalists”. When the federalists have more power that means that Adams will have more power.
...ll was politically motivated became obvious when the House voted to extend the act from its original one year proposed to the expiration of John Adams term, March 3, 1801. The victory of the Republicans, who ran on a platform of anti-sedition, in the election of 1800 showed that Americans were much more interested in personal freedom that what Federalist thought. It is understandable that in time of war some positions need to be taken to assure the countries well being; as seen in later wars when the Japanese were sent to camps in the west coast. But when these acts of concern start to eliminate certain right and freedoms or violate the constitution; they should be abolished. Thankfully, the American people have the Constitution and the Bill Of Rights to bring them back from the edge, and to force those positions in office governing for themselves into accountability.
However, Jefferson and Madison each picked somewhere to stand their ground and keep some of their Republican views. Jefferson didn't out right abandon Republican views. Jefferson's mission was to restore republicanism, to check the growth of government power, and to stop the decline of virute that had set in during Federalist rule. In his inaugural address he stated, "The will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; the minority posses their equal rights, which equal law must project, and to violate would be oppression." A Republican view was to be ruled by informed masses which is majority rule.
On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified effective by Congress. These first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America promised the states certain rights and freedoms which could not be infringed by the government. After all, the founding fathers knew from experience that men in their weakness were often tempted by power. They had become all too familiar with this when under the control of King George in England. Therefore, in order to protect the future people of their beautiful country, they promised certain liberties which could not be taken away. Every single one of these freedoms is important for the United States of America. However, the second amendment is especially important to our nation because it allows the people to protect their freedom and defend themselves and the common good against an overreaching government.
After the Revolutionary War in America, many states recommend that free speech be put in the United States Constitution. Nevertheless, freedom of speech was written into the Bill of Rights and was ratified in 1791. A few years after the First Amendment was ratified, the government passed the Sedition Act of 1798. This was to help prevent resistance or rebellion against the government. It also made it illegal to print, write or say “any false, scandalous and malicious” things against the government.
I believe that the 13th amendment was the most important amendment made to the US Constitution. The 13th amendment stated that slavery or involuntary servitude is to be considered illegal in the United States, which meant ending slavery. Originally, the 13th amendment was written to guarantee that slavery was legit in slave state instead of abolishing slavery, but due to the Civil War the amendment was unable to be passed to the stated for approval. However, when a slavery opposing man was elected as President, he made ending slavery a top priority.
In 1787, The United States of America formally replaced the Articles of Confederation with a wholly new governing document, written by the delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. This document, known as the Constitution, has served as the supreme law of our land for the past 228 years. It has stood the test of time and a majority of Americans still support it today (Dougherty). The Constitution was designed in a way that allows for it to be amended, in order to address changing societal needs. Article V discusses the process by which the Constitution can be altered. This feature has enabled it to stay in effect and keep up with current times. The Constitution should not be rewritten every 19 years because it would not only weaken its importance, but it would also hurt foreign relations and continuously rewriting it would give political parties too much power.
This gives another reason why these acts go against our constitution and the people's rights. Since the Congress cannot make laws reducing the “ freedom of speech or of the press” these acts don't take away the rights, they just limit them a lot. “Provided that the expiration of the act shall not prevent or defeat a prosecution and punishment of any offense against the law, during the time it shall be in force.” Even though the laws expired or became out of date you could be jailed if you didn't follow the rule anyway. This rebuttal is a pretty big eye opener for both sides argument, it shows that it's not taking the right away, but it's limiting it so much that it might as well not be a law.
The first amendment states we have the “Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition”. By passing the Act of Espionage and Sedition, violated those right. America had went back on their word by allowing these laws to be passed. Restricting the people of America from being able to express their thought went against the right of Freedom of Speech. The restriction of being able to publish or distribute information without government intervention went against the Freedom of Press. America expected us to fight for our country and our freedom, when they were going back on their word. Eugene Debs, a socialist leader, rights were taken away when he pointed out the wrongdoings of the government. People were not being treated fairly and could not stand up for themselves because of these laws. More than 2 thousand citizens and immigrants were imprison due to these Acts passed. Not only did they restrict our rights but they started propagandizing. We were not aloud to express our
The sedition act was passed along side with the Alien Act in 1798, signed by president John Adams. The sedatino act made it illegal for anyone to say or write any “false,scandelous, or malicious writing” against congress or the president. At the time the president was John Adams, a federalist. The act never makes it illigal to writing anything bad about the vice president Thomas Jefferson, who was a republican. Both the Alien and Sedition acts target republicans. Just like the Alien act, the sedition act violates the first amendment. It takes away freedom of speech and freedom of the press. If you write anything offensive or wrong about the preident or congress, you could go to jail. This completely takes away from everything in the first ammendment. The federalists did favor loose interpretation of the constitution, but this isn’t just loose interpretation this isn’t following what it states at
In The United States Of America, the Constitution is recognized as the Supreme law of the land. The Supremecy clause in Article VI of the Constitution establishes that Federal law is supreme when there are conflicts between State and Federal Law. Since the inception of the Constitution in 1788, only 27 amendments have been added to improve, correct, or revise the Constitution out of the thousands that have been discussed. In July 2017, Equifax announced that they had a major data breach, allowing hackers to obtain sensitive information from over 130 million Americans. Although the 4th amendment limits how government entities can obtain sensitive information, there is nothing in the Constitution preventing companies
The Bill of Rights had an original intention to protect the American citizen from having the body of government create a monarchical grasp on them; however, the Bill of Rights also served as protection against civil complications between citizens. This is especially true when the 1st amendment right to freedom of speech is on the hot seat. The freedom of speech claim in the first amendment should have an asterisk next to it, simply because there are certain limitations to this freedom. Additionally, if these limitations are broken, they can come with a consequence. For example, any person walking around in a building can not yell, “I have a bomb!” and expect to get away with it. The drawn line where freedom of speech becomes forbidden speech
My story is about how the constitution is important to me. The constitution is important to me because it states all the rights I have. The constitution also states the branches of government, how congress members are paid, how bills become laws, what makes up the branches of government, how branches check other branches, and the way states will honor the other states. I like the people’s rights the most. I like the people’s rights the most because one of them is the right to bear arms. I like the right to bear arms the most just because of my first time getting a deer. I also just love to go hunting. I got my deer in a pea field. The field had about a dozen other does. The female deer or does just stood there and watched my dad and I drag
In the early 1960s the Supreme Court of the United States of America ruled to outlaw prayer and Bible reading in the public schools of our great nation (M. E. Frankel, 1994). The results led to an infuriated outcry from those who opposed the ruling, and on that front, very little has changed after more than fifty years. One Senator went so far as to say that the decision "Made God Unconstitutional." Despite a vast majority of Americans stating that they want the ruling overturned in public opinion polls, the proposed constitutional amendments to reverse the Courts decision has never received the mandatory two-thirds votes need to reverse it. Even Newt Gringrich made a proposed constitutional amendment for the return of school prayer when he
The Need For Constitutional Reform No government in modern times has ever been elected with such a commitment to reforming the constitution as the Labour administration that won office in May 1997. Within months of its election, Scotland and Wales were on the road to devolution. Within a year, although in a very different context, the framework had been set for a devolved, power sharing government in Northern Ireland. A year after that the process was well under way for reform of the House of Lords, eliminating, in the first instance, peers whose place in the legislature was by inheritance.