The Espionage Act of 1917
was created to forbid intrusion of military operations and military
recruitment. It was also intended to
stop insubordination in the military, and to check the assistance of enemies of
the United States during times of war. In 1919, the U.S. Supreme Court solidly
declared through Schenck vs. United States that
the act did not disregard the freedom
of speech of those sentenced under its provisions. The case of Charles Schenck who was the
general secretary of the Executive Committee of the Socialist Party who
distributed leaflets exhorting men not to obey the draft because
they considered involuntary servitude.
Schenck and a fellow named were convicted because the court defended the
decision because the situation during times of war require stricter measures
compared to times of peace of the presence of dangerous forces.
