Espionage and Sedition Acts
Subtitle: World War I and the Image of Civil Liberties
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group; Routledge
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 156
ISBN-13: 9781138023048
Subjects: Political crimes and offenses, united states; Allegiance; Minorities, crimes against; Minorities, united states; Discrimination in criminal justice administration; World war, 1914-1918, united states
Description: "The Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1917-1918 mark one of the most controversial moments in American history. Even as President Woodrow Wilson justified US entry into World War I on the grounds that it would 'make the world safe for democracy, ' the act curtailed civil liberties at home by making it illegal to speak out against the US participation in the conflict. Supporters of the acts argued that these measures were necessary to protect national security and keep in check the perceived threat of radical activities, while opponents considered them an unjustifiable breach of the Bill of Rights. The conflict between government powers and civil liberties concretized by the Acts continues to resonate today. [This book introduces] this controversial set of laws, the cultural and political context in which they were passed, and their historical ramifications."--