FINAL BLOG POST

 The first amendment in the US Constitution forbids the limit to freedom in regards to religion, expression, peaceful assembly, and for the people to petition against the government. In America, the first amendment is extremely crucial to society and used very often. Americans use the first amendment by allowing all different religions to be welcomed and accepted in our world. In addition, we the people are also allowed to speak our minds and feelings in a peaceful manner. All of the events in the civil rights era have played a role in the change socially and politically in America. 

One event that has changed America today with the use of the first amendment, specifically the part regarding speech and assembly, was the women's rights movement. This movement trying to allow women to be able to vote like men began in the 1850s. By 1869, a group called the National Woman Suffrage Association led by Elizabeth Staton and Susan B. Anthony began to try to make change. As time went on, groups began to merge and form one power group named the National American Woman Suffrage Association. This group fought til the very end by having peaceful marches to get their voices heard. By doing this, the women eventually got the approval to vote officially on August 18, 1920 after using their first amendment to fight for their rights. Without this movement, women might not have been able to vote still today. 

Another event in history that used the first amendment, in particular the ability to petition against the government, was during the Brown vs. Board case.This happened in March of 1966 when a black man tried sitting in the Audubon Regional Library with four of his friends. As time progressed, a librarian and a sheriff approached Brown and his friends ordering them to leave the library, but they refused. Shortly after, the men were arrested for violating Louisiana's breach of the peace statute, which is disturbing a public peace and quiet in a space. Clearly, the men did not violate this law and were kicked out because of their color. In response to this, the men petitioned to the US Supreme Court using their first amendment rights. In conclusion to all of this, the Supreme Court ordered that the men did not violate the law by a 5-4 vote. The court ruled that the men were protesting against segregation by sitting in the library which was supported by the ability of the first amendment’s freedoms. 

Not only have events affected the civil rights era, but people have as well. One specific person that has changed the way we live today by using freedom of speech and assembly is Martin Luther King Jr. MLK gave his famous “I have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963 in regards to ending racism. Roughly 250,000 people came to the assembly outside of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. In his speech he goes over his desire for black people to be able to be free and no longer hated as they should have been in 1863 from the Emancipation Proclamation, which he references. As shown, MLK used his rights of the first amendment to change the world in a positive way for race helping lead to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawing discriamation based on race, color, relgion, sex, etc. 

All in all, many things have contributed to the social and political change of the US using the first amendment. These moments in history will never be forgotten and used as learning lessons for future generations.