Our Favorite First Amendment Resources | |
The First Amendment protects some of our most cherished rights, including religious liberty, free speech, a free press, the right to assemble, and the right to petition our government for a redress of grievances. Together, these essential rights are connected to the freedom of conscience—protecting our ability to think as we will and speak as we think. | |
|
Virtual Tour: The First Amendment
Elena Popchock, manager of exhibit content, and Marygrace Kennedy, assistant exhibition developer, lead viewers on a virtual tour of the National Constitution Center’s newest gallery, The First Amendment. Elena and Marygrace share their experiences creating the exhibit, highlight some of their favorite artifacts and exhibit elements, and answer questions about working in museums.
| Want to see The First Amendment in person? Learn more about the exhibit and reserve your tickets. | |
Exhibit Interactive: Is It Protected?
The First Amendment limits the government’s ability to interfere with religion, speech, redress, assembly, and petition rights. However, the government can restrict some activities in order to serve a legitimate government interest like maintaining safety and public order. In this interactive element, you decide whether or not an action is protected or allowed by the First Amendment in a variety of scenarios.
| |
|
Exhibit Interactive: Religious Liberty
Over time, the Supreme Court has shaped what the government can and cannot do regarding religious matters. However, the Court has long struggled with striking the right balance between an individual’s First Amendment rights and the interests of government.
In this interactive, learn about the individuals who brought cases before the Supreme Court, shaping how we interpret the First Amendment.
| |
The National Constitution Center’s Supreme Court Cases Library includes materials on the most influential Supreme Court cases in American history. | |
|
Scholar Exchange: Speech and Press
Join a live class to learn about the First Amendment's protections of speech and press. Where did these ideas come from and how have they been tested over time in America?
Scholar Exchanges give students the opportunity to discuss constitutional topics with a lawyer, judge, or constitutional scholar and their peers from around the country. In this setting, students gain deeper constitutional understanding and engage in enhanced civil discourse.
| |
Upcoming Virtual Museum Experiences | |
Bring the fun and excitement of a field trip right to your classroom. Students can tune in to our live virtual tours and civic stories, joining our museum educators as we explore popular topics from constitutional history. View the schedule here. | |
|
Civic Stories: Who Can Vote?
Friday, October 13 | Noon ET
Great for younger learners!
Join us for a crash course in voting rights throughout history. Students will take a look at voting rights in early America, how these rights changed over time, and discover the inspiring stories of historic figures who insisted on equality at the ballot box for all.
| |
Live from the Museum: Civil War and Reconstruction
Wednesday, October 18 | Noon ET
Explore the Center’s compelling exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality, as one of our museum educators leads viewers through the exhibit. Learn how constitutional clashes over slavery set the stage for the Civil War, and how the nation transformed the Constitution after the war during the Reconstruction period.
| Monthly Civil War & Reconstruction Tours are made possible through the generosity of TD Bank. | |
|
Live from the Museum: The 19th Amendment
Tuesday October 24 | Noon ET
Take a live guided tour of our exhibit tracing the triumphs and struggles that led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Learn about the long fight for women’s suffrage and some of the many women who transformed constitutional history.
| |
Professional Learning for Educators | |
|
Principles of the American Revolution and the U.S. Constitution Featuring Andy Shankman
Wednesday, October 18 | 6:30–8 p.m. ET
In this session, participants will examine the form of government established by the Constitution and its key ideas. This includes a study of natural rights, the rule of law, and popular sovereignty. We will look at primary sources from the founding era to examine how they set the foundation for American democracy. Professor Andy Shankman of Rutgers University joins us.
| |
Thank you for being part of our community of educators. If you have any questions we’d love to hear from you. Please email the education team at [email protected]. | | |
