Summary: The Sedition Act of 1917 limited freedom of speech. President Wilson and Congress claimed political dissent would harm the country's war effort. In this lesson, students consider whether critics of the First World War were anti-American as they read anti-war documents from prominent socialist leaders Eugene Debs and Charles Schenck, as well as excerpts from the Sedition Act and a Supreme Court ruling upholding the act.
Overarching Questions:
- CIVICS: Have the concepts of liberty, justice and/or equality changed during the time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
- CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights and the common good, including the need to maintain order, safety and a healthy environment, during this time period?
- CIVICS: Have individuals and groups influenced public policy during this time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies:
- 6.1.12.CivicsDP.7.a: Evaluate the impact of government policies designed to promote patriotism and to protect national security during times of war on individual rights (i.e., the Espionage Act and the Sedition Amendment).
- 6.1.12.HistoryCA.7.a: Determine the extent to which propaganda, the media, and special interest groups shaped American public opinion and American foreign policy during World War I and compare those factors to contemporary American involvement in another country
Link to Lesson: Sedition in World War I | Digital Inquiry Group