Our Living Shield: The First Amendment

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during its first century, then
progressed to more realistic terms during its latter half of utilization.

During the first century of the First Amendment, the First Amendment was paid a
glance by all when it came to actually carrying out the freedoms guaranteed by
this amendment. For example, in 1794, Pennsylvanian backcountry farmers
protested a whiskey tax. The protesters were not violent such as those of the
previous Shay's Rebellion. George Washington sent in a militia to crush the
rebellion denying them of their First Amendment right to "peaceably assemble."
Later, in 1836, anti sl avery newspaper editor James G. Birney had been warned
that his newspaper "The Philanthropist" was not desirable in the city of
Cincinatti. When Birney refused to cooperate, mob action took rule and,
"scattered the type into the streets, tore down t he presses and completely
dismantled the office." This contradicted the First Amendment which stated that,
"freedom...of the press," is a ...

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