Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Speech is…

The right to think and say what we want

without interference from the government.
History of Freedom of
Speech

James Madison, author

of the Bill of Rights

Original Bill of Rights

Freedom of Speech in World
War I
Many U.S. citizens opposed
the involvement in the war
. Therefore many people
spoke against the
government using their
freedom of speech right.

The war created many conflicts

with people and their freedom of
speech.
 History of Freedom of Speech
continued…

Kentucky and Virginia Resolves

Thomas Jefferson’s Republican

party ; The Alien and Sedition Acts
were passed to try to destroy this
party. Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts
of 1789
United States vs. American
Library Association

V
S.
 Miller Vs. Tinker Vs.
California Des
Moines
 Bethel Vs. Morse
Vs.
Free Speech Today
- The founding fathers didn't account for new
technologies they had now knowledge of
- Modern technologies has made interpreting
the law for the courts difficult
- There are many debates about how to censor
the web
         * such as possible terrorist sites and sites
that go against the government but the
government
          * Government doesn't have power over
all websites available on the web
         * there is debate as to whether the
government has the authority to block different
websites from citizens like they can censor
Free Speech Today cont'd
 - There are many issues about copyrights and what
people have the right to use on the web
        * such as crediting in things such as youtube
videos
         * Or using images made by other people on
your website or blog
- Many videos of popular movies as well as
television shows are available on the web and are
available for free despite the copyright
infringements forcing many film companies to
loose large sums of money
- There is no way to keep people who make
copyright infringements on the web in check
Freedom of Speech Issues and
Limitations
The Harm Principle Vs. the Offence Principle

“The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over
any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent
harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not
sufficient warrant…”
– John Stuart Mill
Internet Vulnerable
 Patriot Act
Section 802: The
definition of Domestic
Terrorism.

Section 215: Permits FBI to

seek records from libraries
and bookstores.
 Importance of Freedom of
Speech

If the government doesn’t know

what the citizens are thinking
then it could be very dangerous
because there could be a major
riot, protest, etc.
Freedom of Speech in the 2008
Election

Two men in NJ stood

at a busy intersection
holding this sign,
practicing their
freedom of speech.
Freedom of Speech in Iraq
 Bibilography
•http://topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/First_amendment
•http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/comm/free_speech/default.html
•http://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~eroberts/cs201/projects/2007-
08/communism-computing-china/freespeech.jpg
•http://forthardknox.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/freedom-of-
speech.jpg
•https://eastchestermhs.wikispaces.com/file/view/madison
•http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/94/91194-004-
5BB45269.
•tp://images-
cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A1474/147491/300_147491.j
http://www.jmu.edu/madison/center/images/resolutions.
•http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Pa
trick_Henry_Rothermel.jpg/350px-Patrick_Henry_Rothermel.j
•http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/28/60728-004-
BCF9187D.jp
•Htpp. ww.old-picture.com/american-history-1900-
1930s/pictures/World-Tank-War-I-001