Punishment for controversial speech has softened dramatically across American history

Evidence

What could happen to you in America if you said the wrong thing at the wrong time? In 1775, if you said the wrong thing at the wrong time, you could be tried for treason and hanged. In 1875, if you said the wrong thing, you might be ostracized by your peers or lampooned by the press. In 1975, if you said the wrong thing, you might get punched in the nose—on the other hand, you might get elected. Today, if you say or do the wrong thing, you might look up from your desk to find that you are today’s thought police victim. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 1058

Categorization

• CANDY: The 1775-1875-1975-today trajectory is a compact, quotable arc that lands well in conversation.
• XREF: connects to: WWI repression of dissent pushed Progressive jurists toward stronger speech protections — Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, 168