Gr 7 Up-This volume presents a sequential history by telling the stories of the men and women who fought to obtain and retain freedoms that came to be guaranteed under the First Amendment. Among the personalities discussed are John Locke, George Mason, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, David Walker, John Ross, Carrie Chapman Catt, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, John Butler, John Scopes, and Luis Valdez. In the foreword, noted First Amendment activist Nat Hentoff makes a passionate connection between past and present issues related to free speech. The 37 chapters deal with topics such as religious freedom, the Sedition Act of 1798, the Fourteenth Amendment, limiting free speech in wartime, and the struggle for women's voting rights. The fight over evolution, religious liberty and the Pledge of Allegiance, McCarthyism and the challenge to free speech, freedom of the press, flag desecration, tax dollars and religious schools, and balancing freedom and security are also addressed. The writing is lively and interesting, the information is accurate, the photographs are captioned, and the quotations are well documented. A useful time line is appended. Recommendations for further reading, annotated Web sites, and a thorough index make this an excellent resource for all libraries, as well as enjoyable reading for history buffs.-Pat Scales, South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, Greenville Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
