
An Indispensable Liberty
The Fight for Free Speech in Nineteenth-Century America
Mary M. Cronin(Editor)
Southern Illinois University Press
Will be published approx. on 9. March 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
312 pages
978-0-8093-3472-8 (ISBN)
Description
Most Americans today view freedom of speech as a bedrock of all other liberties, a defining feature of American citizenship. During the nineteenth century, the popular concept of American freedom of speech was still being formed. In An Indispensable Liberty: The Fight for Freedom of Expression in the Nineteenth Century, contributors examine attempts to restrict freedom of speech and the press during and after the Civil War.
The nine essays that make up this collection show how, despite judicial, political, and public proclamations of support for freedom of expression, factors like tradition, gender stereotypes, religion, and fear of social unrest often led to narrow judicial and political protection for freedom of expression by people whose views upset the status quo. These views, expressed by abolitionists, suffragists, and labor leaders, challenged rigid cultural mores of the day, and many political and cultural leaders feared that extending freedom of expression to agitators would undermine society. The Civil War intensified questions about the duties and privileges of citizenship. After the war, key conflicts over freedom of expression were triggered by Reconstruction, suffrage, the Comstock Act, and questions about libel.
The volume's contributors blend social, cultural, and intellectual history to untangle the complicated strands of nineteenth-century legal thought. By chronicling the development of modern-day notions of free speech, this timely collection offers both a valuable exploration of the First Amendment in nineteenth-century America and a useful perspective on challenges to today's civil liberties.
The nine essays that make up this collection show how, despite judicial, political, and public proclamations of support for freedom of expression, factors like tradition, gender stereotypes, religion, and fear of social unrest often led to narrow judicial and political protection for freedom of expression by people whose views upset the status quo. These views, expressed by abolitionists, suffragists, and labor leaders, challenged rigid cultural mores of the day, and many political and cultural leaders feared that extending freedom of expression to agitators would undermine society. The Civil War intensified questions about the duties and privileges of citizenship. After the war, key conflicts over freedom of expression were triggered by Reconstruction, suffrage, the Comstock Act, and questions about libel.
The volume's contributors blend social, cultural, and intellectual history to untangle the complicated strands of nineteenth-century legal thought. By chronicling the development of modern-day notions of free speech, this timely collection offers both a valuable exploration of the First Amendment in nineteenth-century America and a useful perspective on challenges to today's civil liberties.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Carbondale
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
22 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
460 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8093-3472-8 (9780809334728)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Unknown | Mary M. Cronin
Indispensable Liberty
The Fight for Free Speech in Nineteenth-Century America
E-Book
03/2016
1st Edition
Southern Illinois University Press
€58.99
Available for download
Person
Mary M. Cronin is an associate professor in the department of Journalism and Mass Communications at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. She is the co-author of The Mass Media: Invention, Development, Application and Impact and has published numerous essays and articles.