This short video examines the role played by America’s newspaper printers in the ratification debates. Over 80% of all papers supported the new Constitution and played a significant role in supporting the Federalist cause. Professor John Kaminski explains how and why the newspapers helped to drive the ratification debates.
Landmark Supreme Court Cases – Freedom of the Press
From the first days of American history until today, the Supreme Court has been pivotal in interpreting the Constitution and shaping America’s constitutional republic. Read summaries of the majority ruling in landmark Supreme Court cases that have had an impact on our rights as citizens.
Voices of History
Voices of History is a collection of eight Bill of Rights Institute curriculum resources including Being An American, Preserving the Bill of Rights, Founders and the Constitution, Supreme Court DBQs, Liberty and Security in Modern Times, Religious Liberty: An American Experiment, and Heroes and Villains. Teachers will have free access to each resources’ lessons plans and handouts.
Making Civics Real
A multimedia workshop for high school civics teachers. It includes 8, 1-hour video programs, a print guide to the workshop activities, and a website. The goal of this workshop is to give teachers new resources and ideas to reinvigorate civic education. The series presents authentic teachers in diverse school settings modeling a variety of teaching techniques and best practices in a variety of social studies courses from a 9th-grade government/civics/econ course, to a 12th-grade law course
Van Orden v. Perry (2005)
Does placement of the Ten Commandments on state property in Texas violate the Establishment Clause? This case summary shows how the Supreme Court answers this question in 2005.
Virginia v. Black (2003)
Does a Virginia law that criminalizes the burning of a cross on public or private property violate the First Amendment? This case summary shows how the Supreme Court answered this question in 2003.
Watchtower Bible v. Stratton (2002)
Is an ordinance regulating the solicitation and canvassing of private homes a violation of free speech? This case summary shows how the Supreme Court answered this question in 2002.
Zelman v. Simmons Harris (2002)
Is a Cleveland scholarship program that allows parents to opt to send their children to religious private schools unconstitutional? This case summary shows how the Supreme Court answered this question in 2002.
National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) v. Becerra (2018)
Does a state law requiring crisis pregnancy centers to post or disseminate information about the availability of contraceptive and abortion services violate the First Amendment?
Introducing the First Amendment
Students will inductively discover the First Amendment by reading and analyzing newspapers. They will discuss various circumstances involving the First Amendment, and so understand that in certain instances – libel, publication of national secrets, etc. – there is a limit to the freedoms expressed in the First Amendment.