MC 2000 : Exam 2 Study Guide
Document Summary
The development of the philosophy of free speech. The freedom to protest was important to the many founders of the. American colonies who had broken away from the roman catholic. Church: protestants chaffed under england"s licensing laws which followed them across the atlantic and did not allow them to express their religious views for more than a hundred years. The first amendment to the u. s. constitution guaranteed citizens of the new country five essential and related freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, petition. The first amendment ignited a sometimes bitter debate about free speech that continues to this day. Seditious libel laws in colonial america made it illegal to a. hold a publisher in contempt b. criticize freedom of speech c. criticize the government or political leaders d. censor the press. In 1798, the john adams administration pushed the alien and sedition. Acts, which once again made it illegal to criticize the government, through.
