"The right of peaceable assembly and of petition—is the constitutional substitute of revolution." (Abraham Lincoln, 1859).

Americans have been protesting and asking for "redress of grievances" since before the revolutionary war.  They considered it their right as Englishmen to demand change as do Americans today.  Throughout our history people have recognized injustice and worked to change it through peaceful means.  The middle of the twentieth century saw our liberty to petition government come together again, this time with the demand for civil rights for all.  In this unit, we will examine our liberties and our civil rights and the policies and court cases designed to protect them both.