HIST 2057 The End of WWI Espionage Act 1917 and Sedition Act of 1918 Criminalized criticism dissent against war Espionage act targeted military operations supporting enemies Sedition act specific to speech writing critical of govt Meant to prevent insurrection Used to sensor speech opposition of war Enforcement handled by US attorneys Allowed for uneven application Used widely in western states Laws used to punish dissent criticism Raised questions about freedom of speech What limits can be placed on speech by govt Multiple cases heard in court Supreme court generally upheld applications of both acts Two examples Schenck vs the US 1919 Abrams vs the US Schenck vs US Originated in philidelphia Charles Schenck member of socialist party Oversaw distribution of anti draft pamphlets Encouraged men to resist being drafted Arrested and charged under espionage act Appealed case went to supreme court in 1919 Court upheld conviction and affirmed act s Established clear and present danger standard for constitutionality speech Greater restrictions in wartime okay Abrams vs US Originated in NYC Group of Russian immigants distributed pamphlets o Criticized US involvement in Russian o Condemned intereference in Russian civil war o One version written in Yiddish Arrested charged under sedition act of 1918 Convicted appealed case goes to supreme court Court upheld conviction 7 2 Based ruling on clear and present danger Dissenting opinion in abrams case very important Written by oliver Wendell holmes and Louis brandeis Holmes argued pamphlets did not pose real threat to us Had merely been critical of US actions Speech should only be criminalized if it posed real immediate threat Unknown immigrants pamphlets in Yiddish didn t qualify Holmes argued that crcumstances for restriction varied by case Despite dissent in abrams courts generally uphed both acts Allowed that govt could limit speech Set standard for treatment of speech for another 50 years Speech could be criminalized if it represented a clear and present danger to safety or security Meant espionage and sedition acts woild stand as laws Congress repealed sedition act in 1920 Espionage act remains in amended form today Armistice signed on Nov 11 1918 Wars end had to be officially negotiated Wilson had announced US goals on jan 8 1918 Goals became knowns as the fourteen points Meant to emphasize war was about more than imperialism economic gains Included points to o Create new nations ensure self determination o Freedom of seas free trade o Most important creation of an international league of nations o League would carry out 14 points Wilson and Germany wanted to base treaty on fourteen points Great Britain France not really interested Wilson also weakened by domestic issues Election of 1918 gave repunlicans control of congress Republicans angry at Wilson for t using war in 1918 elections conference paris o Wilson had told voters to vote for democrats to apprive his oeace pplans Republicans so angry refused to consult about plans for Lack of domestic support undermined wilsons positions in Paris Peace Conference began on Jan 18 1919 Dominated by allies Central powers Russia not invited Terms of treaty much harsher than Wilson wanted Germany had to accept sole responsibility for war Germany had to pay huge sum of money for reparations Germany had to give up land to France Belgium Poland Denmark Germany had to severely limit army abandon armaments Germany signed Treaty of Versailles under protest on june 28 1919 Wilson had some success New nation states recognized European powers accepted provided buffer against Bolshevism League of nations included in Treaty of Versailles Would be responsible for securing independence of all members In theory would provide for collective security Wilson determind to get treaty of Versailles ratified Meant US would become member of League of nations Americans generally supportive treaty Democrats favored ratification Republicans in congress opposed Two groups o Irreconcilabes opposed participation in league o Thought league perpetuated imperialisms o Reservationist had concerns with terms but willing to compromise Wilson refused to compromise Sept 1919 went on tour to promote ratification Traveled 8000 miles gave 37 speeches Suffering from poor health Had massive stroke on oct 2 1919 Wife hid conditions from congress public Meant debate about treaty stalled Wilson recovered partially by feb 1920m Refused to support amendments to treaty Told democrats to vote with irreconcilables to block treaty US faced other issues at end of war Outbreak of Spanish Influenza hit Us in 1919 Killed 700 000 americans No real planning to de mobilize wartime economy Contracts cancelled agencies rapidly dissolved Veterans rushed back into civilian life Removal of wartime price controls led to high inflation o Cost of food clothing doubled Unemployment housing shortages became serious Farm income declined by 65 between 1919 1921 Economics gains for women blacks reversed Women encouraged to leave workforces States passed laws to bar women from certain occupations Meant to open up jobs up for men returning from war By 1920 women smaller proportion of workforce in 1910 Blacks faced discrimination violence 26 race riots in 1919 led to 120 deaths Chicago 5 day riot with 38 dead and 500 injured o Began when young black boy stoned to death on beach o Nlack residents Political turmoil hysteria continued Americans becam concerned about Bolshevism Influenced by wartime propaganda againsts radicalism Series of labor strikes in 1919 heightened fears Saw connection between unionism abd readical politics Concerns escaltated when Bolsheviks announced intentions to sped bolshevism Formation of American communist party particularly alarming threat Bombs mailed on MAY Day 1919 confirmed fears of real Formed basis of the red scare Wave of panics anti bolshevik hysteria in 1919 20 Justice dept congress and businesses joined together o Private groups also cooperated American legion o Wanted to find and suppress radicals dissenters J Edgar Hoover led task force to collect info Reports often misleading Linked labor riots to communism Other red scare events Nov 1919 hoover and AG Mitchell Palmer led series of raids o Targeted groups suspected of subversion Dec 1919 palmer deported 249 foreigners Jan 1920 rounded up 4000 suspected radicals in 33 cities o Broke into union ahllas etc o Oftenwithout warrants Excess and violence upsets americans Support