Schenck v. United States

Definition

Schenck v. United States was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1919 that upheld Espionage Act convictions against individuals who distributed leaflets opposing American involvement in World War I.

Related terms

Espionage Act 1917: This law passed shortly after U.S entry into WWI made it illegal to interfere with military operations or support U.S enemies during wartime.

Clear and Present Danger Test: A doctrine adopted by the Supreme Court to determine under what circumstances limits can be placed on First Amendment freedoms.

Sedition: Sedition is conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state.