Philadelphia: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the city where the Constitution was drafted during the “Constitutional Convention” in 1787.
Press: The Press includes all people who report the news – journalists, tv reporters, bloggers, etc. The First Amendment protects the “freedom of the press,” which means people who report the news won’t be stopped by the government, even if the government doesn’t like what is being reported.
Religion: The First Amendment protects the “freedom of religion.” A religion is a set of beliefs about how the universe was made and what its purpose is. Religion usually involves worship of a god or gods, and the belief in certain ideas about right and wrong behavior. Some religions acknowledge only one god, and others acknowledge many gods. Because of the First Amendment, Americans can practice whatever religion they want, and believe whatever they want, even if they choose to believe in nothing. The First Amendment also says that the government can’t support one religion over another.
Madison: James Madison was a Founding Father who wrote the First Amendment in 1791. He also went on to become the 4th U.S. President in 1809.
United: The “United” States are fifty organized political units that are united by the Constitution & Bill of Rights.
Censorship: Censorship is when an authority (such as a government or religion) suppresses communication (when they tell a person what they can or can’t say). There is much debate over what censorship is, and if it is ever valid, because the First Amendment protects our freedom to express ourselves.
Bill: The Bill of Rights are the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. The First Amendment is the first in the Bill of Rights. The idea behind the Bill of Rights was to insure certain freedoms and rights to the citizens of America. It put limits on what the government could do and control. Freedoms protected include freedom of religion, speech, assembly, the right to bear arms, unreasonable search and seizure of your home, the right to a speedy trial, and more. A “bill” is a draft of a new law that is usually put before a legislature.
Speech: The First Amendment protects our “freedom of speech”. Freedom of speech is the right to state one’s opinions and ideas without being stopped or punished.
Supreme: The “Supreme” Court is the top court in the United States. It is “supreme” because all other courts fall under its jurisdiction. The Supreme Court interprets the First Amendment.
Justices: The Supreme Court is like a team. There are nine “justices” (or judges) who sit on the the bench of the Supreme Court and who work together to help decide which laws are constitutional and which are not. The way we understand the First Amendment today has a lot to do with the way the justices have interpreted it over the last 200 years.
Liberty: Freedom from being confined or controlled.
Assembly: Freedom of assembly is the right to join together with others to reach common goals. The freedom of assembly is protected by the First Amendment.
Petition: A formal, written request signed by many people that is given to a person in authority. The First Amendment protects our right to petition.
Washington: George Washington was serving as the first president of the United States when the First Amendment was ratified.
Amendment: An amendment is a change or addition to the United States Constitution. The First Amendment protects our freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
Founding: The Founding Fathers were the leading statesmen during the American Revolution and the formation of the United States.
Constitution: A constitution is a set of rules that guides how a country, state, or other political organization works. The First Amendment is the first addition to the United States Constitution.
Equality: The condition or state of being the same in number, amount, degree, rank, or quality. The First Amendment applies equally to everyone in the United States