Lasheika Grayson

1st Amendment

Document Analysis

1. What type of document is this?

The First Amendment is a part of the United States Constitution, specifically listed as one of the initial
ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights.

2. Who is the author of the document ?

The First Amendment, like the rest of the Bill of Rights, was authored collectively by the Founding
Fathers of the United States, with significant input from James Madison.

3. Who is the audience or intended recipient of the document?

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution is directed at the government, establishing
specific rights that protect individuals and their freedoms from government interference or suppression.

4. List three things the author said that you think are important?

In the First Amendment:

1. **Freedom of Speech:** The amendment explicitly protects the freedom of speech, preventing the
government from restricting or censoring individuals' expressions and opinions.

2. **Freedom of Religion:** It ensures the freedom to practice any religion without government
intervention or establishment of an official state religion.

3. **Freedom of the Press:** The amendment safeguards the freedom of the press, allowing journalists
and media to operate without government censorship or control, promoting the dissemination of
information and ideas.

5. Why do you think this document was written?

The First Amendment, along with the other amendments in the Bill of Rights, was written to safeguard
individual liberties and limit the power of the government. It was meant to ensure that citizens had
essential freedoms, such as speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government,
without fear of governmental suppression or interference. These rights were fundamental to the
principles of democracy and the vision of personal freedom held by the Founding Fathers.

6. What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Quote from the document.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof; or 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.”

This excerpt explicitly prohibits Congress from making laws that infringe upon essential freedoms:
religion, speech, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government for grievances. The
amendment serves as a clear mandate to prevent governmental overreach into these fundamental
aspects of individual liberty.

7. List two things the document tells you about life in America at the time it was written?

1.Concerns about Governmental Overreach: The amendment reflects concerns about government
interference in individual beliefs and expression. This suggests a historical context where individuals
sought protection from potential government suppression or control over religious practices, speech,
press, assembly, and grievances.

2. Valuing Civic Engagement: The mention of the right to peaceably assemble and petition the
government highlights the importance placed on civic engagement and the ability of citizens to voice
their concerns or grievances to the government without fear of retribution or suppression.

8. Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document:

"If you were writing the First Amendment today, would you include additional provisions or
considerations to address the complexities and advancements in communication, expression, and
religious diversity that have emerged since its inception?"