Freedom of Expression

Explores America’s most cherished and controversial freedom through 11 touchstone events, featuring pro and con documents and expert analysis. Freedom of expression is a sacred right of the American people, enshrined in the Constitution. The appeal of the language seems clear enough: Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech or of the press. Yet American history is filled with freedom of expression issues that plain works could never explain or resolve. Tracing 11 issues that have polarized the nation, this student resource examines the historical underpinnings of each issue and then provides pro and con documents to give voice to the impassioned speakers of the day. An annotated bibliography follows each issue to provide avenues for further research, and a timeline and general bibliography provide additional reference support. The ink had barely dried on the Constitution before the first landmark freedom of expression issue exploded onto the scene. Starting with John Adams’ divisive Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, James Magee follows the history of freedom of expression issues throughout the course of American history: the Abolitionist Movement; the Civil War; The Comstock Law; World War I; the Cold War and the Red Menace ; the Civil Rights Movement; the Vietnam War; the Nazi March on Skokie; Political Correctness and Free Speech on Campus; and the Internet. These events show the variety, complexity, and intensity that freedom of speech and expression issues engender and illustrate how the United States has worked through these contentious periods, with American citizens’ freedoms remaining intact, if not enhanced. This is the perfect reference for students and researchers interested in the applied history of the living document that is the U.S. Constitution.