Instructions

EXPANDING THE LIMITS OF FREEDOM: MIRANDA v. ARIZONA, 1966

The Supreme Court emerged as a surprising ally to the civil rights movements of the 1960s. In this landmark decision, the court sought to protect those accused of crimes from intimidation and abuse upon arrest. The court declared that before any interrogation, individuals taken into police custody must be informed that they have rights to a lawyer and to remain silent and that anything they say might be used in a court of law. Your assignment is to write an essay of 250 to 350 words to answer this question:

According to the decision in the case Miranda v. Arizona, why did the Supreme Court place a high value on the privilege against self-incrimination as a cornerstone of American freedom?

You may not use any direct quotations in your answer. Everything you write must be in your own words. You may not use any outside sources.