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First Amendment


Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievance.

by Brittany

This means that Congress cannot make any one religion the main religion. For example: The Congress cannot make Catholic the main religion. Freedom of Speech means people can voice their personal opinion, but they cannot slander anybody. For example: The people can say, " I think so and so is a murderer." You cannot say " So and so is a murder." Freedom of PRESS is like Freedom of Speech, but instead of saying it they write it in the newspaper, many actors and actresses have sued newspapers not for voicing their own opinion but saying lies that are not true. Also you can get sued by telling lies to people and if the person they're talking about finds out they can sue the person. Freedom of Assembly means you can have meetings and gatherings and not in a hiding place. For example : The Sons of Liberty lived during the colonial days and they met in a hiding place to voice their opinion about the British. So when the Congress tried to include Amendment 1 they brought up that occasion.

My stamp shows a newspaper saying,"FREEDOM OF PRESS FINALLY." So people can read what they want to read. The cross and the Star of David symbolizes Freedom of Religion, so people pick their own religion. Also, the person shows freedom of Speech, so now you can say your own opinion, but you're not allowed to slander another person. Without Amendment 1 we would all have the same religion, not allowed to voice our own opinion, and have to be like Sons of Liberty and hide to have a meeting or a gathering. So we should be thankful and loyal to Amendment 1 forever.

by Bethany

To me this amendment means, Congress cannot tell it's citizens what religion you need to be. Citizens can make speeches and tell their opinion without being put in jail as long as they don't slander or say untrue things. The press or news are allowed to tell or write about things that happened without government control over what they write. People are allowed to hold meetings without government butting in. People are allowed to complain to the government and if the government is wrong they have to satisfy the person complaining.

My stamp shows a meeting being held. The lady on the stage is saying, "Thanks to the first amendment we all have the right to come to this meeting without being arrested. I also can make this speech about the 1st amendment. Also the press has the right to be in this meeting."

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