The Importance of the First Amendment

The Importance of the First Amendment

The First Amendment of the United States was first proposed on September 25, 1789. It was not enacted until December 15, 1791. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Even though the amendment was written so long ago, we still obey it and have based all of our laws around it. Needless to say, without the establishment of this amendment, our country would not be known for its many freedom rights today.

Thomas Jefferson once said "a democracy cannot be both ignorant and free." This was the attitude of many of the first Americans that settled in the country. The attitude was created by the resentment of the British government by the colonists. This resentment turned into determination not to be anything like the abusive government they just escaped. There are five points to the first amendment called the five freedoms. The first one is religion, second is speech, third is freedom of the press, fourth is freedom of assembly, and fifth is freedom to petition the government. The first amendment is important because it pretty much gives America the identity of being the land of the free. The first amendment states that people have the right to speak freely without government interference. It includes several aspects including signs, speech, and first amendment on campus. It also gives the right to publish news information, and opinions without government interference. This also means that people have the right to publish their own newspapers, newsletters, magazines, etc. It says that people can gather in the public, march, demonstrate, carry signs, and otherwise express their views as long as it is in a non-violent way. It also states that people have the right to appeal to government in favor of or against policies that affect them or that they feel strongly about. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. would not have been able to have made the marches and speeches he made if it was not for the first amendment.

Even though I am still pretty young, there are several ways that the first amendment relates to me. Without freedom of speech, I would not be able to wear the clothes I wear, or protest something I can protest now. In some countries women are forbidden to show any skin except their face. If they try to protest or disobey the law, many are brutally beaten and then killed. Our First Amendment protects this right. Without the freedom to assemble, I would not be able to be in the National Honor Society or the Beta Club. This would also affect my ability to protest. An example of this is the Occupy Wall Street movement that had taken place in New York a few months back. The members of this protest were all able to protest because of the amendment. The most important to me is the protection of religion. Without the freedom of religion, I would not be able to practice my religion.