This activity focuses on the Supreme Court case Gitlow v. New York (1925) and its impact on freedom of speech and the limits of state power under the U.S. Constitution. Students will explore how the case raised important questions about government authority, the First Amendment, and how the Bill of Rights applies to state laws. Using a real-life situation involving a political pamphlet and a controversial arrest, this case highlights how the legal system balances individual rights, public safety, and constitutional interpretation. Students will learn how the Court’s decision set a major precedent by applying the Bill of Rights to state governments through the Fourteenth Amendment, and how this landmark ruling continues to shape civil liberties in the United States today.
Included in this resource:
Supreme Court Case Spotlight analysis with scaffolding questions
Answer key for teachers (suggested)
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$2.50