1. Civil Liberties: First Amendment Freedoms
19.1 The Unalienable Rights
19.2 Freedom of Religion
19.3 Freedom of Speech and Press
19.4 Freedom of Assembly and Petition

2. The Unalienable Rights
A commitment to personal freedom is deeply rooted in America’s colonial past
The Revolutionary War was fought to preserve and expand these very rights: the rights of the individual against government

3. Rights & Liberties
The existence of government is justified in the preamble of the Const.
The Constitution guarantees the basic rights of United States citizens in the Bill of Rights. (was not included at first)
Intended to limit national govt. power

4. Civil Rights & Liberties
Civil Liberties: protections against govt.
Ex: freedom of religion, speech, press & guarantees of fair trial

5. Civil Rights & Liberties cont.
Civil Rights- positive acts of government that seek to make constitutional guarantees a reality for all people
Ex: Prohibition of discrimination on basis of race, gender, religious belief, or national origin- Civil Rights Acts 1964

6. Relativity of Individual Rights
All persons have the right to do as they please as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others.
Ex: freedom of speech HOWEVER...you can be found guilty of using obscene language in public

7. Things that make you go hmmm...
Is yelling fire in a crowded movie theatre your right to freedom of speech or can you be arrested?????
YOU CAN BE ARRESTED!!
Schenck v. United States, clear and present danger

8. Who Are Guaranteed Rights?
Most rights are guaranteed to all persons.
Aliens (foreign-born residents, non-citizens) are covered by some rights.

9. ??Question??
Can you name a time in history when constitutional rights were taken away from citizens in the U.S.?
Internment Camps (war relocation camps) for Japanese during WWII

10. Internment Camp

12. Internment Order

13. Scope of Bill of Rights States can and do limit certain rights.
Ex: right to bear arms- states require registrations & forbid certain guns

14. 9th & 14th Amendment
9th There are rights beyond those set out in the Constitution.
14th- Due Process Clause- states can’t deny rights.
Process of incorporation- incorporating Bill of Rights into 14th amendment

15. Gitlow v. New York, 1925
Benjamin Gitlow- communist- convicted in state courts of criminal anarchy
Made several speeches and published a pamphlet calling for a violent overthrow of govt.
Supreme Court upheld his conviction- state law- unconstitutional and violated the 14th Amend.