LAD #30 Schenck vs. U.S. case

Charles Schenck was an American socialist and went around telling young men to not enlist in the Great War. He told them that the draft was violating the Thirteenth Amendment and also claimed that the it was motivated by “capitalist greed”. He was then charged with violating the Espionage Act due to his obstruction in recruitment. Since the United Staes was at war, they didn't take action because they his speech would cause a “clear and present danger” and the government feared people would follow what he said. In the end, Schenck was found guilty and was sentenced to six months in prison and would later be overturned.

Pictures: I chose a picture of Charles Schenck and a picture of the Sedition Act because the Sedition Act and Espionage Act were both passed during the Red Scare and were both used to launch a campaign against radicals. These both relate because Schenck was found guilty under the Espionage Act and he was trying to advocate his socialist beliefs about not enlisting in war, while the Sedition Act kept Schenck from being able to speak freely about it.