Cases that shaped the 1st Amendment

  • Jun 15, 1215

    Abuses of King John of England

    Abuses of King John of England
    King John of England made abuses that caused a revolt in nobles, who compel him to notice the rights of both nobles and regular Englishmen. This was known as the "Magna Carta".
  • The Petition of Right

    The Petition of Right
    A statement of objectives of the 1628 English legal-reform movement that lead to the civil war and dethroning King Charles The First in 1649.
  • Massachusetts Body of Liberties

    The document includes a right to petition and a statement about due process.
  • Charter of Rhode Island

    Charter of Rhode Island
    The Charter Of Rhode Island is established and gives religious freedom to the colonies.
  • Full Liberty to Worship

    Connecticut is the state that passed the first statute that allows “full liberty of worship” to Anglicans and Baptists.
  • Virginia Declaration of Rights

    Virginia Declaration of Rights
    Virginia’s House of Burgesses passes the "Virginia Declaration of Rights", which is the first bill of rights to be included in a state constitution in America.
  • The Final Draft of the Declaration of Independence

    The Final Draft of the Declaration of Independence
    Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence on July 4 for all of the colonies.
  • Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia state bill

    Thomas Jefferson completed his first draft of a Virginia state bill for freedom of religion. The bill stated: “No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever.”
  • Virginia's acceptance

    Virginia's acceptance
    Virginia became the 11th state in America to approve the 1st 10 amendments to the Constitution, thus ratifying the Bill of Rights.
  • Alien and Sedition Acts

    Alien and Sedition Acts
    POTUS John Adams oversees the passing of the Alien and Sedition Rights Acts, and in response to it, Thomas Jefferson introduces the Kentucky Resolution while James Adams introduces the Virginia Resolution.
  • Antislavery

    The U.S. House of Representatives adopts gag rules preventing discussion of antislavery proposals.
  • 14th amendment

    The 14th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified.