Supreme Court 7 Schenck v. The U.S.

The Russian Revolution and World War I launched the U.S. into a Red Scare. Fearing foreign influence the Espionage and Sedition Acts were passed. In essence they forbid interference with the war effort through making false statements or promoting disloyalty. Charles Schenck was the General Secretary of the U.S. Socialist party. In 1917, just when the U.S. entered World War I, he helped print and distribute over 15,000 leaflets urging men to resist the draft. He was arrested and charged with violating the Espionage Act. Sentenced to ten years in prison he appealed to the Supreme Court who upheld the conviction.