What freedoms are protected under the First Amendment?

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution is a fundamental component of American democratic principles, primarily focused on protecting individual liberties in the context of expression and assembly. It explicitly safeguards several key freedoms, including the freedom of speech, which allows individuals to express their ideas and opinions without government interference. Furthermore, it protects the right to assemble peacefully, enabling individuals to gather for protests, meetings, and other forms of collective expression.

The protections provided by the First Amendment are essential to a functioning democracy, as they ensure that diverse viewpoints can be shared and debated openly. These rights help foster an environment where individuals can engage in societal discussions and advocate for change without fear of punishment or censorship.

In contrast, the freedoms related to bearing arms, privacy, or property ownership are not encompassed by the First Amendment. The Second Amendment specifically addresses the right to bear arms, while other amendments and laws govern privacy and property rights. Thus, the accurate representation of the First Amendment's protections is in the realm of speech and assembly, making that the correct response to the question about the liberties it safeguards.