Friday, November 4, 2011
WWI: Free Speech?
Consider how war changes the "rules" for the herd! What acts/laws were passed during WWI to limit freedoms? Why were these acts passed? See text page 300 for the Schenck Case details. What laws do we have in place today due to the War on Terror? Have you heard of the Patriot Act? Are these laws necessary? How do you feel about restrictions placed on guaranteed Constitutional freedoms?
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War in general changes the rules for every day citizens. In WWI our constitutional rights were limited such as speech and press. These limitations are not only in the past, but in our everyday lives, for instance, our traveling rights are what some people say restricted.
ReplyDeleteDuring WWI many restrictions were put on our freedoms. The Committee on Public Information (CPI) is an example of this. Members of the CPI stifled the expression of controversial opinions. They did not want a conflict about the war. Authorities helped the CPI and the government by treating people harshly if they worked against the "goal" of winning the war. An act that corresponds with this is the Espionage Act. This act allowed any postal authority to ban/take away any "treasonable" newspapers, magazines, or any other type of the press. Anyone interfering with the war effort suffered severe penalties. The Sedition Act was next; it made it illegal to make any "abusive" language towards the government. Also, this act allowed socialists, political radicals, and pacifists to be prosecuted. Eugene V. Debs spent ten years in federal prison, because he was a socialist leader. Another case is Schenck vs. United States. Schenck was convicted for distributing pamphlets that encouraged men to not join the military, which meant he was violating the Espionage Act. Schenck claimed that he was protected by the first amendment, but Schenck was convicted anyway. The court said that during war they may put limitations on the freedom of speech. In WWI there were many limitations on our freedom of speech and of the press.
There are not only limitations in the past, but today too. Due to the War on Terror we must go through many air travel security systems. Some people say that some of these systems invade our personal privacy and exploit us. Also, you must be careful what you say in public, because there are many cases of hoax terrorist attacks. The Patriot Act is used to discourage and punish acts of terrorism, help prevent money laundering, and other meaningful purposes. These laws in some ways are very helpful, and we need them at times. In some sense I do think that these laws are necessary. Though, I do not agree with restrictions on our basic constitutional rights. I think that even if we do not agree with the government we should be allowed to say it, but not encourage people to go against it.
Throughout the years there have been some restrictions on our rights. Some of them were necessary, but others were not. Overall we now have free speech and freedom of the press.
There were a few laws passed during World War 1 to limit freedoms. One example would be the Espionage and Sedition Acts. The Espionage Act of 1917 prohibited any means to attempt to interfere with military operations or interfere with the military in any way, or support U.S. enemies during the war. The Sedition Act of 1918 extended the Espionage Act to cover more offenses, such as the freedom to express their opinion on the government or war effort in a negative way. With such acts, you were not allowed to support opposing war efforts or speak or do anything about opposing the war. Such acts were against the law, and one could be fined up to 10,000$ (which was worth a lot more back then) or put in jail for up to 20 years for committing such crimes. These acts were enforced in order to let those who were very worried about communists see some sort of “justice” whether people were really guilty of such crimes or not. For example, in the case “Schenck versus “United States” Charles Schenck, the secretary of the Socialist Party of America was put in prison for six months regarding the 15,000 leaflets he handed out that contained statements that said to oppose the draft and assert “your” rights, and that the American military was breaking the 13th amendment. The court decided he was guilty because what he did was not protected by the first amendment and was equal to “shouting fire in a crowded theater”. Nowadays we do still have laws due to the War on Terror. Basically, security everywhere in the USA is high. One example would be airport security. There are many people who believe such things are an invasion to our privacy. Also, many people are sensitive to those of the Muslim religion and those who look Middle Eastern. As it now seems silly for Americans to have feared communists then, I believe it is silly for us to fear those of Middle Eastern dissent. The USA PATRIOT act is an acronym that stands for Uniting (and) Strengthening America (by) Providing Appropriate Tools Required (to) Intercept (and) Obstruct Terrorism. This was made to do exactly what it states. It wanted to punish terrorists and acts of terrorism and a few other things. In most ways, I find such laws unnecessary. I think our nation is being a bit too sensitive, as we were before, during World War One. All in all, I think we deserve the rights our constitution gives to us, and that such laws restrict them in some ways, because we are to paranoid.
ReplyDeleteDuring WW I many constitutional rights had been limited such as the right of speech and press!
ReplyDeleteDuring WW I many of our constitutional rights were limited. One group that limited our right was the Committee on Public Information (CPI). President Wilson appointed George Creel to be the direct or CPI. Using a combination of education and nationwide advertising campaign to “sell America” was Creel quickly starting winning over America. They handed out pamphlets, press releases, lectures and speeches on America’s aim on the war, and dramatized posters. CPI stressed Germany as the cruel wicked enemy as well. Congress passed the Espionage Act in June of 1917. The Espionage Act allowed postal authorities to ban treasonable newspapers, magazines, or other printed articles from mailing. If anybody did mail these “unlawful” items, severe punishments were handed out. Anybody interfering with the war effort or cause could be fined $10,000 and up to 20 years in federal prison! Then in 1918, they limited our freedom of speech and press even more with the Sedition Act! The Sedition Act unable people to us profanity or abusive language about any form of the American government, military forces, or the Constitution! The government passes the Sedition Act to persecute socialists, political radicals, and pacifist. Eugene V. Debs was arrested under the act for giving an anti-war speech in Canton, Ohio, and he sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Debs was the leader if the Socialists Party in America. Schenk vs. United States in 1919 is another case that limited our rights. During the case, the court ruled that there are certain times when the First Amendment do not apply in public speeches. During WW I the government made numerous limitations on our constitutional rights.
Today in America, we still have limitations on our rights. Due to the War on Terror, we must go through extreme security in various places. Airports are the main places were we go through up-tight security. Ever since 9/11 airport security has changed tremendously. You now have to put you bags through x-ray machines, and you must also walk through one as well. Many people find these scanning machines exploiting and invade our personal rights. That is just the security you have to go through in an American airport. When you are coming from another country, the security is much heavier. If you are coming back from a different country you have to go trough customs. During customs you have to fill out a piece of paper stating how much money you spent while you were there and the items you bought. Also, before getting on the plan you can felt by security guards, and they look through your carry-on items one more time. Today, we still have limitations on our rights.
Back in the 1920’s, many laws and rules were put in place that limited freedoms for American citizens. The Espionage Act allowed postal services to forbid treasonable newspapers, magazines, or anything printed. It enacted penalties for anyone who committed seditious actions. People found guilty of any disloyal acts could be punished with 20 years in prison or up to a $10,000 fine! The Sedition Act further enforced the same aspects of the Espionage Act. It was made to prosecute people such as socialists, radicals, and pacifists. Basically, these two acts limited the American citizen’s right to freedom of speech in order to make more people support the war. In the Schenck Case, the Supreme Court ruled that in times of war the government was able to limit freedom of speech.
ReplyDeleteThe Patriot Act is actually a ten letter acronym that stands for Uniting (and) Strengthening America (by) Providing Appropriate Tools Required (to) Intercept (and) Obstruct Terrorism. This act expanded law enforcement agencies’ ability to search things such as telephone calls, e-mails, and medical records, and broadened discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities, which allowed them to detain and deport any immigrants suspected of terroristic activities.
I believe that in some cases these laws are necessary, however I do not think that we needed to place all those restrictions on citizen’s freedom of speech back in WWI. The United States always brags about its freedom of speech, but if we cannot guarantee that to our own citizens, then how can we say that they really were free? I believe that even in times of war we should still be able to say what we think.
These issues will show up again during WWII! Thanks for the quality posts ladies;)
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