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Lesson

Schenck v. United States DBQ

Duration
80 min
Grade
9–12
Published
Nov 15, 2020
A black and white portrait of a middle-aged man with a prominent mustache and hair.
Use this Lesson with The Espionage Act of 1917 Primary Source to explore how domestic groups who spoke out against U.S. involvement in World War I were treated. Facilitation Notes: Students should know how to approach primary sources, as well as some factual background regarding the events and time period of World War 1.

Objectives:

  • Students will trace how the debates regarding U.S. involvement in World War I led to official restrictions on free speech and a new articulation of the limits of free speech.
  • Students will analyze primary source documents using historical thinking skills.

Materials

Lesson Components

ActivityPrimary Sources Schenck v. United States

Images and excerpted texts that provide background for the Schenck v. United States Supreme Court Case.

ActivityPrimary Source Schenck v. United States

Excerpted text from the unanimous opinion of Schenck v. United States, application and reflection questions, and a thesis writing activity.

Lesson plan

80 minClick a phase to open it

More Information

Students should know how to approach primary sources, as well as some factual background regarding the events and time period of World War 1.

Standards

Advanced Placement

  • Topic 7.6 · World War I: Home Front
  • Theme · Migration and Settlement
  • Learning Objective · Unit 7G
  • Historical Development · 7.2.I.C
  • Reasoning Skill · Sourcing and Situation
  • Reasoning Skill · Source Claims and Evidence
  • Reasoning Skill · Contextualization
  • Reasoning Skill · Making Connections
  • Reasoning Skill · Argumentation
  • Reasoning Process · Comparison
  • Reasoning Process · Causation
  • Reasoning Process · Continuity and Change

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Schenck v. United States was a Supreme Court Case that explained some limits to the Freedom of Speech afforded by the First Amendment. During World War I, the US instituted a military draft. Many people released anti-war and anti-government information due to their displeasure with the draft. Charles Schenck, an anti-war socialist, was arrested by the Federal Government for circulating a pamphlet encouraging men to resist the draft and violating the Espionage Act of 1917. The Supreme Court ruled that wartime circumstances changed the rules related to free speech and resulted in the “Clear and Present Danger” rule.