Ben Franklin and the First Amendment

Ben Franklin was an influential champion of free speech and freedom of the press during the founding and formation of the United States of America. This lesson takes a look at two of Franklin’s works – Silence Dogood No. 8 and “On the Freedom of the Press” in order to gain insight into his thinking about two of our fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.

Mighty Ira

Amid high-profile controversies surrounding free speech, racial equality, and antisemitism, Ira Glasser’s story is as timely and provocative as ever.

Supreme Court Justices Database

Learn more about the history of the Supreme Court by exploring FIRE's database of justices and the free speech cases that have shaped our nation.

Free Speech Curriculum FAQ

The high school curriculum materials cover the philosophy, history, and law behind our current understanding of First Amendment free speech rights.

First Amendment Educational Resources for K-12 Teachers

FIRE’s K-12 free speech curriculum modules help educators enrich and supplement their existing instruction on First Amendment and freedom of expression issues in K-12 classrooms.

FIRE's High School Curriculum FAQ