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Most Americans would have a hard time naming the freedoms protected by the first Amendment. The first Amendment protects the right to free speech. It also protects freedom of religion. Many people do not understand everything protection included under the first amendment. Other people think that assembly and speech are not separate protection spelled out by the United States constitution.

Although the first Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, the Supreme Court has never ruled that these freedoms are absolute. A person cannot engage in slander; a newspaper cannot engage in libel. If they damage the character or the business of someone else, the perpetrator can face civil consequences. The Supreme Court ruled that a person’s free speech does not extend to advocating the overthrow of the government by force or by violence during the early 20th century. The phrase “clear and present danger” comes from this ruling. Modern cases involving free speech have focused on students and how far a staff member can go to protect the school.
Freedom of Religion has also evolved to be slightly more restrictive. The first challenge to the Freedom of Religion came in the 19th century, when the Federal Government had problems with the Mormon practice of polygamy. The government did sent troops to the Territory, but there were few, if any, consequences of this conflict. Utah’s entry into the union was delayed because of a certain religious practice. Eventually Utah made polygamy illegal and the Mormon Church abandoned the practice.

The freedom to peacefully assemble and the freedom to redress to government for redress of grievances has not changed much. When challenges to this right occur, it is often because someone has let their temper flare out of control. When this does happen, it often makes news. These rights rarely face court challenges.More info here: ESPN and Friends Out of Bounds on Free Speech