By Sally Ann Ulrich

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

I love the First Amendment. I mean that literally. For me, it is the soul of the Constitution, safeguarding the fundamental rights of a free people. It did not have an easy birth.

On May 25,1787, delegates from 12 states met in Philadelphia in what came to be called the Constitutional Convention. Rhode Island opted out, fearful that individual rights would not be protected.

After months of debate, delegates approved the Constitution of the United States and distributed it to the states. Approval by

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