A Timeline of Censorship
Book censorship is not a modern phenomenon. Throughout history, authorities—whether religious, political, or social—have sought to suppress ideas they deemed dangerous. This timeline highlights key moments in the history of censorship, with a focus on America's experience.
Ancient & Medieval Era
Burning of Books in China
Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered the burning of books and burying of scholars to unify thought and suppress dissent in ancient China, one of history's first large-scale book burnings.
Ovid Exiled from Rome
The Roman poet Ovid was banished by Emperor Augustus, reportedly in part due to his poetry. His works were removed from Rome's public libraries.
Talmud Burnings in France
Pope Gregory IX ordered the confiscation and burning of all copies of the Talmud, beginning centuries of religious text suppression in Europe.
Index of Forbidden Books
The Catholic Church established the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, a list of banned books that would be maintained for over 400 years until 1966.
Colonial & Early America
First American Book Ban
'The Meritorious Price of Our Redemption' by William Pynchon became the first book banned in colonial America, burned in Boston for heresy.
Comstock Act
Anthony Comstock successfully lobbied for a federal law banning 'obscene' materials from the mail, leading to the suppression of books on birth control, anatomy, and literature deemed immoral.
Huckleberry Finn Banned
Mark Twain's 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' was banned by the Concord Public Library as 'trash and suitable only for the slums'—beginning over a century of challenges to this American classic.
20th Century
Nazi Book Burnings
The Nazi regime organized mass book burnings across Germany, destroying works by Jewish, communist, and other 'un-German' authors. An estimated 25,000 books were burned in Berlin alone.
McCarthy Era Censorship
During the Red Scare, the State Department removed books by 'controversial' authors from overseas libraries. Senator McCarthy's investigations led to widespread self-censorship.
Island Trees v. Pico
The Supreme Court ruled that school boards cannot remove books from libraries simply because they disagree with the ideas in them, establishing important First Amendment protections.
Banned Books Week Launched
The American Library Association launched Banned Books Week to celebrate the freedom to read and draw attention to censorship, now observed annually.
21st Century
Modern Book Ban Surge
Book challenges spiked dramatically, with the ALA recording the highest number of challenges since they began tracking in 2000, driven largely by organized campaigns.
Legislative Wave
Multiple states passed laws restricting books in schools, some criminalizing librarians for providing 'harmful' materials, marking a new era of government-backed censorship.
Throughout history, book banning has often targeted marginalized voices and ideas that challenge the status quo. The specific targets change, but the impulse to silence remains remarkably consistent.
Famous Banned Books Throughout History
Many books now considered classics were once banned, burned, or heavily censored. Their eventual acceptance often reflects changing social attitudes—and reminds us that today's banned books may become tomorrow's required reading.
Ulysses
by James Joyce (1922)
Banned for: Obscenity charges; banned in the US until 1933
Significance: The US v. One Book Called Ulysses ruling helped establish that literary merit must be considered when evaluating obscenity
The Grapes of Wrath
by John Steinbeck (1939)
Banned for: Banned for 'vulgar language' and portrayal of poverty
Significance: Won the Pulitzer Prize; Steinbeck later won the Nobel Prize. Still challenged in schools today
1984
by George Orwell (1949)
Banned for: Banned in the USSR for anti-communist themes; challenged in US schools for sexual content
Significance: Ironically, a book about censorship and thought control has itself been repeatedly censored
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee (1960)
Banned for: Racial slurs, depiction of racism, 'inappropriate' for children
Significance: Remains one of the most challenged books in America despite winning the Pulitzer Prize
Beloved
by Toni Morrison (1987)
Banned for: Sexual content, violence, 'inappropriate' for students
Significance: Won the Pulitzer Prize; challenges to Morrison's work have intensified in recent years
Harry Potter series
by J.K. Rowling (1997-2007)
Banned for: Promotion of witchcraft, magic, and the occult
Significance: The most challenged books of the 2000s; demonstrates how popular books attract challenges
The Pattern of Persecution to Praise
Notice how many banned books later became required reading in schools, won major literary awards, or are now considered essential parts of the cultural canon. This pattern suggests that censors often target books precisely because they challenge readers to think differently—the very quality that makes literature valuable.
How Censorship Has Evolved
While the impulse to censor has remained constant, the methods, justifications, and targets have changed significantly over time. Understanding this evolution helps us recognize censorship in its modern forms.
Religious Censorship
Medieval–18th Century
- Church authorities controlled publishing
- Heresy and blasphemy were primary concerns
- Physical destruction of books was common
- Index of Forbidden Books guided restrictions
Moral/Obscenity Censorship
19th–Mid 20th Century
- Government regulations on "obscene" material
- Focus on sexual content and "indecency"
- Comstock laws and similar legislation
- Courts decided what was "obscene"
Political Censorship
20th Century
- Suppression of communist/fascist literature
- McCarthy-era blacklists and investigations
- Cold War restrictions on information
- Government-led campaigns against ideas
Modern “Parental Rights” Censorship
2010s–Present
- Framed as protecting children
- Targets LGBTQ+ and racial content
- Organized campaigns with coordinated lists
- Legislative backing for book removal
Key Shifts in Approach
- •From burning to bureaucracy: Physical book destruction has largely given way to administrative removal through school board policies and legislative action.
- •From religious to “family values”: While religious groups still challenge books, modern censorship is often framed in secular terms like “age-appropriateness” and “parental rights.”
- •From government-led to grassroots-organized: Modern book bans often originate from organized citizen groups rather than government officials, though legislation increasingly supports these efforts.
- •From single books to categories: Instead of targeting individual controversial books, modern censorship often targets entire categories of content, such as books with LGBTQ+ characters or discussions of race.
The language of censorship has evolved to sound more reasonable—“protecting children,” “parental rights,” “age-appropriate materials”—but the effect remains the same: limiting access to ideas and silencing certain voices.
Connecting Past to Present
History reveals recurring patterns in censorship that help us understand today's book bans. By recognizing these patterns, we can better respond to current challenges to intellectual freedom.
Pattern: Targeting Marginalized Voices
Historical: Jewish texts, African American literature, immigrant stories, and women's writings have consistently been suppressed throughout history.
Today: Books by and about LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color are the most frequently challenged, continuing the pattern of silencing marginalized perspectives.
Pattern: Fear of Youth Access
Historical: The Comstock era focused heavily on protecting youth from “corrupting” influences. Comic books were targeted in the 1950s for harming young minds.
Today: Modern book bans overwhelmingly target school and youth libraries, framed as protecting children from “inappropriate” content.
Pattern: Organized Campaigns
Historical: The Catholic Legion of Decency, McCarthyist groups, and various moral reform societies coordinated censorship campaigns in their eras.
Today: Groups like Moms for Liberty provide template challenges and target lists, enabling coordinated campaigns across multiple school districts.
Pattern: Moments of Social Change
Historical: Censorship efforts intensified during the Civil Rights movement, women's suffrage, and other periods of social change.
Today: The current surge in book challenges follows increased attention to LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice movements, and growing cultural diversity.
What History Teaches Us
Throughout history, censorship has ultimately failed to suppress ideas. Banned books often become more sought-after, their banning drawing attention to the very ideas censors hoped to hide. Many banned books are now celebrated classics.
However, censorship does cause real harm—to authors whose voices are silenced, to readers denied access to important stories, and to the marginalized communities whose experiences are erased from libraries and classrooms. The fact that censorship eventually fails doesn't mean we should accept it while it occurs.