Importance of the First Amendment - Essay Sample

Introduction

The framers of the constitution of the United States added ten amendments to the document to protect individual rights. The amendments came into effect in 1792 and are known as the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment is arguably one of the most important of them. It states, “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 grievances” (MTSU, 2020). As such, this Amendment protects the freedoms of religion, speech, and press. This paper seeks to discuss the importance of these freedoms, particularly in the 21st century, where various changes threaten the First Amendment.

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First Amendment Freedoms

The First Amendment freedoms are guaranteed at birth, and one need not be a citizen to enjoy them. They are also neither right-wing nor left-wing and hence can be used to push for political and social change. These factors make the First Amendment greatly important to Americans. Recent studies have shown that religion drives negative perceptions more than nationality and ethnicity (Sherwood, 2020). As such, in a situation where a particular religion is favored over the others, the likelihood of division and conflict increases. It is for this reason that the First Amendment is of great importance today. The framers of the constitution were informed by the long history of religious witnessed in Europe and the recognition of the power of religious discord to disrupt society. As such, they sought to prevent the government’s interference in the practice of religion by the citizens.

History has proven that if governments are unchecked, they can easily become dictatorial and suppress the rights of the citizens. To this end, the freedoms of press, speech, and assembly give the citizens the right to seek redress and call the government into account. Freedom of speech allows Americans to express their thoughts and opinions without the fear of censorship, as is the case in some countries. It is, therefore, one of the most fundamental freedoms in the country. It can be argued that these freedoms have helped position the United States as a custodian of democracy in the world. The Amendment has also significantly contributed to the country’s political, legal, and social systems.

Limitations

However, it should be noted that the freedoms discussed above have limitations. For instance, the First Amendment does not allow one to force the tenets of their religion on other people. Harmful speech is also not protected. Under the freedom of assembly, peace must be maintained during the gatherings. The destruction of property seen in some of the recent protests over police brutality, therefore, was against the spirit of the First Amendment. Besides, the provisions of the First Amendment are threatened by various changes seen in the 21st century (White, 2020). The treatment of journalists by some public officials in the recent past has been interpreted as a threat to the First Amendment. The use of force against protestors has also been seen as a violation of their freedoms of speech and assembly (White, 2020).

Conclusion

As seen in this discussion, the First Amendment protects some of the most fundamental freedoms in the United States. The freedoms of speech, religion, press, and assembly have been the cornerstone of the country’s democracy. These freedoms have helped prevent divisions in society and have been instrumental in keeping the government in check. Unfortunately, recent events have proven that the First Amendment is under attack. Journalists have been mistreated by public officials, an attack on the freedom of the press, and force has been used on protestors violating their freedoms of speech and assembly. As such, there is a need for more deliberate efforts to protect a law that has preserved the country’s democracy for centuries.

References

MTSU. (2020). 7 things you need to know about the First Amendment. MTSU.
https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/page/things-you-need

Sherwood, H. (2020, November 15). Religious intolerance is 'bigger cause of prejudice than race', says report. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/15/religious-intolerance-is-bigger-cause-of-prejudice-than-race-says-report

White, M. (2020, June 23). The First Amendment may be safe, but free expression is not. The Hill. https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/504120-the-first-amendment-may-be-safe-but-free-expression-is-not.