​Dealing With Dissenters

​Still there were dissenters. The American Socialist Party condemned the war effort. Irish-Americans often displayed contempt for the British ally. Millions of immigrants from Germany and Austria-Hungary were forced to support initiatives that could destroy their homelands. But this dissent was rather small.

​Dealing with Dissenters

Nevertheless, the government stifled wartime opposition by law with the passing of the ESPIONAGE AND SEDITION ACTS OF 1917. Anyone found guilty of criticizing the government war policy or hindering wartime directives could be sent to jail. Many cried that this was a flagrant violation of precious civil liberties, including the right to free speech.The Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision on this issue in the SCHENCK V. UNITED STATES verdict. The majority court opinion ruled that should an individual's free speech present a "clear and present danger" to others, the government could impose restrictions or penalties. Schenck was arrested for sabotaging the draft. The Court ruled that his behavior endangered thousands of American lives and upheld his jail sentence. Socialist Party leader Eugene V. Debs was imprisoned and ran for President from his jail cell in 1920. He polled nearly a million votes.

​Dealing with Dissenters

​Propaganda poster from the US intelligence office during WWI, depicting Kaiser Wilhelm II (leader of Germany) as a spider.

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