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Activity
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: John Peter Zenger Trial

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a comprehensive site from UMKC School of Law concerning the trial of John Peter Zenger. You can find just about any information you may need here, from the issues of The New York Weekly Journal to the trial record. Also of...
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Handout
Other

Law School help.com: Torts: Defamation

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about defamation, "An invasion of the interest in reputation of a person or a group of persons resulting from libel or slander." This website provides definitions of both libel and slander, and addresses the role of defamation in...
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Defamation

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn what defamation is, and explore the legal differences between slander and libel. Other concepts include "false light" and "absolute privilege." Also looks at legal defenses used and defamation laws in other countries.
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Article
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Confidential Magazine Trial (1957)

For Students 9th - 10th
Thomas Wolfe called Confidential (1952-58) "the most scandalous scandal magazine in the history of the world." Confidential went where no publication had gone before in exposing to the public the private lives of celebrities. Truth,...
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: u.s. V. Amistad: A Case of Jurisdiction

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students will analyze specified passages from the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Libellants of Schooner Amistad to explore the concept of jurisdiction and how a case travels through the federal court system.
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a brief summary and the text of Chief Justice Brennan's opinion of the Supreme Court in this case involving libel.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Beginnings of Revolutionary Thinking: Trial of John Peter Zenger

For Students 5th - 8th
Freedom of the press? That was not always an accepted right. Read about the trial of John Peter Zenger, who was accused of libel for printing truths about the royal governor of New York. Find out the outcome of the trial and what it...
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Handout
University of Hawai'i

University of Hawaii: Business Editors Ethics Code

For Students 9th - 10th
The official ethics code of The Society of American Business Editors and Writers provided for by the University of Hawaii.
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Website
Other

The Louis D. Brandeis Collection: Synopsis of the Ballinger Pinchot Affair

For Students 9th - 10th
A good summary of the Ballinger-Pinchot controversy where Richard Ballinger was accused of corruption, Collier's Magazine became involved, and Louis D. Brandeis was hired by the magazine to represent it because it was accused of libel.
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Article
CNN

Cnn: Newspaper Won't Identify Sources in Bombing

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Remember Richard Jewell? He was the man accused of being the Olympic bomber by anonymous sources. Jewell was cleared and sued the paper for libel. Links to related stories allows viewers to follow Jewell's story.
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Article
Other

Dot Dash: The Balance Small Business: How Copyright Works With Social Media

For Students 9th - 10th
The copyright process has become fairly simple with traditional works like books, plays, movies, and theater. But copyright is a little more difficult with the advent of the internet. For example, bloggers must be aware of what they...
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

For Students 9th - 10th
The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by Congress in 1798 because of feared war with France. This engaging page gives you the opportunity to see a complete copy of the original document and also gives links to a typed transcript,...
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Alien and Sedition Acts

For Students 5th - 8th
A great description of the Alien and Sedition Acts, passed by the Federalist Congress in 1798. See how the Federalists tried to hang on to power by restricting voting privileges and infringing on free speech and freedom of the press.
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Article
Investopedia

Investopedia: Cease and Desist

For Students 9th - 10th
Understand the legal term "cease and desist," why it is used, and what the difference is between a cease and desist order and a cease and desist letter.
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Activity
Other

Common Sense Americanism: Schenck v. United States

For Students 9th - 10th
This summary provides the background for Schenck v. United States, a World War I-era Supreme Court case involving free speech. Schenck is an example of what can happen to basic constitutional rights in time of war.
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Article
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Falwell v Flynt Trial (1984)

For Students 9th - 10th
Asked about his first sexual experience by an interviewer, Reverend Jerry Falwell said, "I never really expected to make it with Mom, but then after she showed all the other guys in town such a good time, I thought 'What the hell!'"...
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: First Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out this interactive timeline on first amendment of the United States Constitution.
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: Freedom of the Press

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out this interactive timeline on the history of freedom of press in the United States.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Emergence of New Ideas About Personal Liberties

For Students 9th - 10th
American colonists expected to have "English rights" as supported by the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights. See how these rights were applied in the trial of John Peter Zenger, whose acquittal reflected the right of freedom of...
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Primary
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Archiving Early America: Alien and Sedition Acts

For Students 9th - 10th
This article from Archiving Early America provides an explanation of the Naturalization, Alien, Alien Enemies and Sedition Acts, shows the original acts and provides transcribed texts of the Alien Enemies and the Sedition Acts.
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Handout
Other

New York State Newspapers:the Early History of Newspaper Publishing in N Y State

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
In the first few paragraphs of this article read about the first two colonial newspapers published in New York.

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