Legal Repression in WW1

Woodrow Wilson, 28th president of the United States was presented with the enormous decision in whether the United states should remain neutral or join in the Great War that will be later known as World War I, but we all know the decision made due to us eventually participating. With the engagement of the United States on the war, this leads to an attack by Congress and the President on the rights and liberties of its people in the nation. Laws were put into play to restrict individuals on their freedom of speech and restrict the press on the opinions on the war. Acts designed to protect how people see the participation in WW1 were put. Wilson made acts like the Espionage Act, Sabotage Act, and the Sedition Acts to trying to "sell" a war to its citizens.

Espionage Act of 1917: American can be jailed when suspected an act of subversion. This meant that if people were thought another was advocated negatively about the war. That another is obligated to report it. Both of these first two acts were aimed at socialists, pacifists, and other anti-war activists during World War I. Prevented the prosecution on the government decisions in fear that they will get harsh penalties including expensive fines and imprisonment. Gave the government a new way to keep to make the people agree to the decision on war. This lead to spying, people spying on others on the suspicion that they are against the war, not helping the soldiers fighting. Also to the negative side, sabotage, people framing others for no good reason in order to get rid of them or a dislike in them people started to turn on each other with no clear evidence that what they are saying is true.

Sedition Act of 1918: A reinforcement of the Espionage Act that made negative thoughts about war illegal silenced peoples opinions on the war and caused people to be on the side of the US did not want its people rooting for the opposite side of distracting/ influencing the performance of its own army. Did does not allow showing any expression on opposing the war. An example of consequences because of violation of the act; Eugene V. Debs, founder of the IW, international workers of the World. Presenting his anti-war speech, which he was found arrested and imprisoned for because of 10 years in prison. This meant what Congress was showing really meant business and people had to follow.

Sabotage Act of 1918: During the war, this Act restricted measurements that were passed. Not much was said about this law but that it another branch to the Espionage Act,this act they allowed officials to prosecute anyone who criticized the president or the government. This enforced both laws talked about and made some men and women quiet but others protest against the civil rights people was taken away.
Major portions of the Espionage Act still remained today as part of the US while the Sedition Act was later repealed in 1921. Becuase of these acts, Americans lost the patience with their government/ tolerance on the event and never again Americans let this taking away of human rights happen again. As historians said,
"they would be met with mob hysteria and newer, more repressive laws governing speech and writing. ...this was indeed a high price to have paid for intervention in World War I."





Sources:
Sedition Act
WW1 liberties