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Free Speech Viewing Guide

Overview:

Freedom of speech is a bedrock principle in the United States. Why did the Founders include protections for it in the Bill of Rights?

  1. Why is freedom of speech essential in a democracy?
  2. In your own words, define the “marketplace of ideas.”
  3. What did the Sedition Act of 1798 ban?
  4. What did the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 do?
  5. What is the “Clear and Present Danger” doctrine?
  6. In the modern day, what are some limits that the government may apply to speech?

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