LAD/Blog #31: Schenck V. United States

Schenck vs. U.S. started when Charles Schenck, an American socialist, began distributing information to men to avoid the draft for World War I (the Great War). Schenck decided to do this because he thought the draft violated the 13th amendment (involuntary servitude). He also stated that the war was heavily fueled by capitalists. Schenck was charged with breaking the espionage act. Schenck appealed to the Supreme Court, where he lost his case. He then argued that his 1st amendment rights were also violated, but this also failed.

This reminds me of the Zenger Trial, as in both cases, the defendant could not speak against the government.