Chapter 2
The First Amendment
The Meaning of Freedom
Freedom of the Press in England
The British devised several means to restrict press in England. Seditious libel laws were used to
penalize citizens who criticized the government, regardless of whether or not the criticism was
true.
Freedom of the Press in Colonial America
In the American colonies, licensing lasted until the mid-1720s.
Most publishers declined to purchase the tax stamps, and the British government did not
retaliate.
Community Censorship, Then and Now
The struggle of Boston’s pro-British printer in the 1770s is far from unique in American history.
Community censorship still persists today, and in some cases is becoming more prevalent.
The First Amendment: The New Constitution
