The very first examples of free speech being censored come from America’s early years. 
In 1765, the Stamp Act was imposed onto colonists by the British, effectively monitoring and taxing all printed documents, including newspapers, legal proceedings, and commercial items.³
American printers and publishers quickly saw the act as a direct attack on their freedom of speech. The colonists did not appreciate taxed without proper representation in government. They saw it as Britain’s way to censor any negative words Americans may publish about them. This act was the first of many catalysts that pushed colonists to revolt.
Restrictions on free speech continued even after the repeal of the Stamp Act. During the Revolutionary War, the Sedition Act of 1798 was passed to prevent the press from publishing opinions that spoke ill about the U.S. government and its leaders. This law was most used by the Federalists to censor any critics from the opposing party who would edit newspapers, such as Matthew Lyon and William Duane.¹ As a result, 15 newspaper editors were indicted, while 10 were convicted under the restrictions outlined in this act.²
² Video Lesson Week 3