Thomas Jefferson And Freedom Of Speech

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Thomas Jefferson once claimed, “A democracy cannot be both ignorant and free.” (Thomas Jefferson) This was the commonly held attitude of the “enlightened” men who settled the United States. The inhabitants of the North American colonies did not have a legal right to express opposition to the British government that ruled them. Nonetheless, throughout the late 1700s, these early Americans did voice their discontent with the Crown. The early Americans also frequently criticized the much despised local representatives of the Crown. But they protested at their peril, for the English common law doctrine of "seditious libel" had been incorporated into the law of the American colonies, That doctrine permitted prosecution for "false, scandalous and…show more content…
citizens to freely voice their opinion on any matter without fear of backlash. Unless it's trying to disgrace someone, threaten someone or doing something illegal etc. Freedom of Speech was established in an effort to protect ones opinion on any matter and in doing so the framers of the First Amendment also put into place the fundamental right of peaceably assembly. Getting together to share ideas, coming together to share common beliefs, fighting for the right to vote, civil rights and protesting war and act upon those beliefs and given the right to peaceably assemble was what the framers of the First Amendment had intended when the freedom of the people to speak openly was established. The need to secure the right of every single United States citizen to peacefully parade, and gather, demonstrate, support or express opposition of public policy, as well as express one's views is all of which the framers of First Amendment made sure had been guaranteed and protected by the freedom of…show more content…
For example if facebook asks that vulgar language, or videos not be used while on the sight they have a right to take down or mute the videos since or language used because this is their property therefore they would have a right to enforce a no vulgarity rule since this site doesn't belong to us. The Courts have also decided that the First Amendment provides less than full protection to commercial speech, defamation (libel and slander), speech that may be harmful to children, speech broadcast on radio and television, and public employees’ speech. Restriction, and or limit to free speech exists if the speech in question poses a "clear and present danger” i.e., a risk or threat to safety or to other public interests that is serious and imminent. Freedom of speech can be and often is restricted in a work place, for example: employers can restrict your right to speak in the work place about politics, about religion, and or legal

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