Final answer:
The actions involved in Gitlow v United States were not protected by the First Amendment due to the "clear and present danger" they posed to the security of the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the case of Gitlow v. United States, the actions involved were not protected by the First Amendment because they presented a "clear and present danger" to the security of the United States or its people.
The decision limited the First Amendment right to free speech if it imposes such a danger.
This means that while the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, there can be limitations on this right in certain circumstances.