Infringe On Civil Liberties Essay
It is said that it is necessary to infringe upon civil liberties during wartime. For example, Abraham Lincoln suspended the right of habeas corpus during the Civil War. Similar to that situation, there was a multitude of violations on civil liberties during the first world war. This is due to the fact that before being able to officially enter the first World War, it was necessary for the United States government to rally a lukewarm citizenry into a pro-war spirit. Once achieved, it was mandatory to maintain enthusiasm for the war until peace was reached. The United States government decided that in order to do so, it was necessary to violate the civil liberties of those who were perceived as public enemies: German-Americans, war opponents,
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When these war opponents publicized their opinion on the war, they were oftentimes fined or jailed. This was allowed to happen because of two pieces of legislation, the Espionage and Sedition Acts. The Espionage Act gave the postal officials the power to ban certain newspapers and magazines. It also instituted a fine of $10,000 for anyone who obstructed the draft; draft obstructer would also face twenty years in prison (“Espionage and Sedition Acts”). The Sedition Act extended the powers of the Espionage Act. This violation of the First Amendment was used as a major weapon against those who were expressing their negative opinions about the …show more content…
He publicized that the draft went against the Thirteenth Amendment, which outlawed involuntary servitude (U.S. Constitution. amend. XIII). Schenck declared that since not all men wanted to fight in the war, it was against the law for them to be forced to do so. In the court case Schenck v. United States, he was detained under the Espionage Act for obstructing the draft. The court decided that the First Amendment had certain limits which could be distorted depending on the circumstances. It was said that during wartime, there is a clear and present danger that allowed the limits of the amendment to become more lenient
When these war opponents publicized their opinion on the war, they were oftentimes fined or jailed. This was allowed to happen because of two pieces of legislation, the Espionage and Sedition Acts. The Espionage Act gave the postal officials the power to ban certain newspapers and magazines. It also instituted a fine of $10,000 for anyone who obstructed the draft; draft obstructer would also face twenty years in prison (“Espionage and Sedition Acts”). The Sedition Act extended the powers of the Espionage Act. This violation of the First Amendment was used as a major weapon against those who were expressing their negative opinions about the …show more content…
He publicized that the draft went against the Thirteenth Amendment, which outlawed involuntary servitude (U.S. Constitution. amend. XIII). Schenck declared that since not all men wanted to fight in the war, it was against the law for them to be forced to do so. In the court case Schenck v. United States, he was detained under the Espionage Act for obstructing the draft. The court decided that the First Amendment had certain limits which could be distorted depending on the circumstances. It was said that during wartime, there is a clear and present danger that allowed the limits of the amendment to become more lenient