Larry Flynt Case Study

It is not uncommon in today’s society to be opinionated. Today, people use the First Amendment to the United States Constitution daily. Such as, in any type of argument that may arouse, any difficulty that pops up, and even when we are walking down the street. We use Freedom of Speech as our back bone when we discuss sensitive topics or issues of the world. Examples being, if you are walking through the grocery store, talking on your cell phone and someone asks you to talk quieter, we quickly become offended and resort to the First Amendment, that we are able to talk as loud or quiet as we please.

The Sedition Act allowed the US government to give consequences to anyone who goes against the government. Congress did not want any foreigners or citizens to be able to say anything negative

This could be done during war or peace time. The Sedition Act severely restricted freedom of speech and of the press. People who printed or helped print or disseminate written material against the government, congress or the president could be prosecuted. People who spoke against these entities could also be prosecuted even if it was just their opinion. Madison realized that freedom-loving people can easily be persuaded to voluntarily part with liberties they would otherwise consider indispensable when they feared foreign attacks or war (Watkins).

The Alien and Sedition Acts contradicted the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Right states that “Congress shall not… prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people”. The Sedition Act opposes this because it states that the people cannot speak, write, or do anything that makes accusations against any governmental entity (McClellan, Source 4). This is abridging the freedom of speech because you cannot talk freely about the government and are severely

During this time period, 20 people were arrested for speaking against the government(“The Alien and Sedition

The United States Supreme Court has made many controversial rulings throughout the many years since it was established. These cases have been decided by a very close vote. Each one shaping the structure and jurisdictions of the government. Some strengthened the powers of government and some gave more rights to the individual. They will forever effect and influence the future of America.

i. The Sedition Act was law enacted in 1798 that made it a crime to write or publish “any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress…or the President..with the intent to defame…or bring them, or either of them, into disrepute…or to excite against them, the hatred of the people of the United States.” Violators were subject to imprisonment for up to two years and a fine of up to $2000. ii. Ostensibly, the law was intended to protect against French terrorism that Americans were afraid of spreading to the US during the French Revolution. However, the true reason the law was enacted was for political purposes.

Thus, the Sedition act displays not only apathy towards the constitution and the effort that went into the documents production, but also displays the apparent hypocrisy of the Federalist Party in exchange for working to silence the

The freedoms of men and women are guaranteed under law, yet somehow we tell eachother that our speech is incorrect and should be looked down upon. How can the liberties of other people be less valuable than than your own? Americans tend to simply push an opposing opinion out of their way, deeming it invaluable and useless, but when someone does that same thing to them, they are up in arms about their right to free speech. Walter Lippman uses powerful pathos and strong diction in his article The Indispensable Opposition to develop his argument that individuals must respect and listen to other’s opinions in order for society to grow as a whole. People’s emotions are always hard to decipher and angle so that their opinion is altered, or even changed.

The article argues that the courts should only view harmful speech in the same eyes and rule them the same as if they were conduct harms. The source then discusses how many scholars believe that freedom of speech only applies when the benefits outweigh the harms, regarding what is being said. The article does a good job of approaching the problem through a semi-neutral lens. The article clearly lets its opinion be known at times; however, it approaches the opposite side of the argument in a fair manner. The article will be incredibly beneficial because it discusses when freedom of speech should not apply with a neutral approach.

The First Amendment Early Americans fought the Revolutionary war to be free of Great Britain, and that’s why we have our basic freedoms that allow us to do different things that other country’s citizens couldn’t. All of this is because of our first amendment. The first amendment has had an enduring impact on the United States because of it’s important meaning and purpose. The First Amendment’s Meaning and Purpose

This is where the contradiction of the first amendment and laws abide one another. Is it freedom of speech or is it a

When we censor what we want to say because others tell us to, we run the risk of violating our First Amendment right on free

This event aligns with the creation of The Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act made in 1918. The purpose of these laws was to forbid "spying and interfering with the draft but also "false statements" that might impede military success", as well as any ' 'statements intended to cast "contempt, scorn or disrepute" on the "form of government" or that advocated interference with the war effort" (Voices of Freedom 119). As a result, American citizens expressing their disapproval in any form regarding the war would be arrested and punished by these

As human beings, we are all born with an entitlement of freedom of speech or synonymously known as freedom of expression as it is a basic human right. It is stated in the Federal Constitution and it is important for us human beings to protect our rights to freedom of speech and expression as it is the backbone for a democratic society. Having the right to express oneself freely without any restrictions is an essential part of what it means to be a free human being. Article 10 in the Federal Constitution states that; (a) every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression; (b) all citizens have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms; (c) all citizens have the right to form associations.