1. Historical Approaches to Free Speech Our ethnocentric views of freedom The connection between religion and politics as it relates to speech Very early civilizations privileging speech: the Hebrews the Greeks Rome China

2. Some Early History The Puritans--Religious freedom, but little tolerance for criticism Classes of punishable speech in England ●Sedition●Obsenity ●Blasphemy●Private Libel John Peter Zenger’s trial in New York(1735)--jury nullification

3. The First Amendment in American History--Briefly Origins--Madison and Friends Early tests-- the Sedition Acts of 1798 the anti-slavery movement free speech for women Free speech and the Civil War The Comstock Act and control of pornography Early Decisions--Davis v. Massachusetts