Free Expression in America - (Primary Documents in American History and Contemporary Issue) by Sheila Suess Kennedy (Hardcover)

About the Book

Freedom of speech is a foundational principle of the American Constitutional system. This collection of over 100 primary documents from a variety of sources will help students understand exactly what is meant by free speech, and how it has evolved since the founding of our country. Court cases, opinion pieces, and many other documents bring to life the tension between America's constitutional commitment to robust and unrestrained discourse and recurring efforts to suppress expression deemed dangerous, degrading or obscene. Explanatory introductions to each document aid users in understanding the various arguments put forth in debates over exactly how to define the Constitution to encourage readers to consider all sides when drawing their own conclusions.

Relying heavily on Supreme Court precedents that have shaped First Amendment law, the volume also provides plenty of carefully selected source materials chosen to reflect the culture of the times, allowing the reader to better understand the climate giving rise to each controversy. The introductory and explanatory text help readers understand the nature of the conflicts, the issues being litigated, the social and cultural pressures that shaped each debate, and the manner in which the composition of the Supreme Court and the passions of the individual Justices affected the development of the law. This welcome resource will provide students with the opportunity to explore the philosophy of the First Amendment's Free Speech provisions and to understand how our historic commitment to freedom of expression has fared at various times in our history.

Book Synopsis

Freedom of speech is a foundational principle of the American Constitutional system. This collection of over 100 primary documents from a variety of sources will help students understand exactly what is meant by free speech, and how it has evolved since the founding of our country. Court cases, opinion pieces, and many other documents bring to life the tension between America's constitutional commitment to robust and unrestrained discourse and recurring efforts to suppress expression deemed dangerous, degrading or obscene. Explanatory introductions to each document aid users in understanding the various arguments put forth in debates over exactly how to define the Constitution to encourage readers to consider all sides when drawing their own conclusions.

Relying heavily on Supreme Court precedents that have shaped First Amendment law, the volume also provides plenty of carefully selected source materials chosen to reflect the culture of the times, allowing the reader to better understand the climate giving rise to each controversy. The introductory and explanatory text help readers understand the nature of the conflicts, the issues being litigated, the social and cultural pressures that shaped each debate, and the manner in which the composition of the Supreme Court and the passions of the individual Justices affected the development of the law. This welcome resource will provide students with the opportunity to explore the philosophy of the First Amendment's Free Speech provisions and to understand how our historic commitment to freedom of expression has fared at various times in our history.

Review Quotes

.,."partiularly helpful for high school or college students researching issues of current interest. Privacy on the Internet and prayer in public schools are typical examples. However, it also makes fascinating reading for ordinary citizens who are interested in probing both sides of some of the issues that have plagued Americans for many years. It is highly recommended."-ARBA

?...partiularly helpful for high school or college students researching issues of current interest. Privacy on the Internet and prayer in public schools are typical examples. However, it also makes fascinating reading for ordinary citizens who are interested in probing both sides of some of the issues that have plagued Americans for many years. It is highly recommended.?-ARBA

?For those people who would like to understand how the issue of free expression became so omnipresent, this slim volume is a good place to start. The book traces the evolution of the First Amendment from its colonial roots to the present day by presenting carefully chosen excerpts from court cases, statutes, and essays that elucidate this long journey....For readers who like to rummage around in the sources to try and understand an issue, this would be an excellent choice. Given the sound organization and major emphasis on free expression in the 20th century, one does not have to read the book from cover to cover, but can focus on a particular issue or incident that is of relevance and read the appropriate sources.?-Wisconsin Lawyer

..."partiularly helpful for high school or college students researching issues of current interest. Privacy on the Internet and prayer in public schools are typical examples. However, it also makes fascinating reading for ordinary citizens who are interested in probing both sides of some of the issues that have plagued Americans for many years. It is highly recommended."-ARBA

"For those people who would like to understand how the issue of free expression became so omnipresent, this slim volume is a good place to start. The book traces the evolution of the First Amendment from its colonial roots to the present day by presenting carefully chosen excerpts from court cases, statutes, and essays that elucidate this long journey....For readers who like to rummage around in the sources to try and understand an issue, this would be an excellent choice. Given the sound organization and major emphasis on free expression in the 20th century, one does not have to read the book from cover to cover, but can focus on a particular issue or incident that is of relevance and read the appropriate sources."-Wisconsin Lawyer

About the Author

SHEILA SUESS KENNEDY is Assistant Professor of Law and Public Policy at Indiana University.