eugene debs defends political dissent – ww i
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Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I. Primary content source: The Story of Us by Joy Hakim. http://www.flickr.com/photos/47687159@N00/421702333/. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Eugene Debsdefends political dissent – WW I
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47687159@N00/421702333/ Primary content source: The Story of Us by Joy Hakim
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Americans were deeply divided on World War I. To generate popular support for the war effort, President Woodrow Wilson enlisted specialists in advertising and public relations.
President Woodrow Wilsonhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/leonandloisphotos/2968465760/
http://www.worldwar-1.net/world-war-1-timelines/world-war-1-1917/world-war-1-1917-index.htm
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Through speeches, publications, and films, these officials convinced many citizens to buy war bonds and to demonstrate their loyalty to the
U.S. government.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/canada.htm
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At times, patriotism degenerated into anti-German hysteria, nativism,
and intolerance.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/australia.htm
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Despite this hostile climate, anti-war protestors, political radicals, and pacifists continued to oppose
the war.
http://www.drugwar.com/propaganda.shtm
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To suppress this dissent (voice), government officials instituted severe restrictions on speech.
http://huquq.com/WordPress?p=19
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In June 1919, Congress passed the Espionage Act, imposing high fines
and long jail terms for broadly defined antiwar activities.
Eugene Debs protesting American involvement in WWI.
http://worldcitizen.bloghi.com/
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In May 1918, the law was amended with a Sedition Act that penalized “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or
abusive language” about the federal government, the U.S. flag, the
Constitution, or the armed services.
http://www.tjhsst.edu/~sgoswami/legislation.htm
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Public officials imprisoned thousands of pacifists, antiwar activists, and political radicals.
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Eugene Debs was among those imprisoned. A long-time labor activist, Debs gained national
attention when he was sentenced to a six-month jail sentence for his role in leading the 1894 Pullman strike.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47687159@N00/421702333/
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While imprisoned, Debs read many political texts and grew highly
critical of capitalism.
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Upon his release, he converted to socialism and led the Socialist
Party of America for many years (also their presidential
candidate.)
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In June 1918, Debs gave a speech in Canton, Ohio. In the address, he declared, “The master class has always declared the wars; the
subject class had always fought the battles.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47687159@N00/421702333/
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Debs was immediately arrested for violating the Espionage and
Sedition Acts. During his September 1918 trial, Debs presented his own
case.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47687159@N00/421702333/
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“I have never advocated violence in any form. I have always believed in
education, in intelligence, in enlightenment; and I have always made my appeal to the reason and
… conscience of the people.”
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“I admit being opposed to the present form of government…I am
doing what little I can…to bring about a change that shall do away with the rule of the great body of
the people (the working class) by a relatively small class…”
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“When great changes occur in history, when great principles are
involved, as a rule the majority are wrong. The minority are right…”
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“In every age there have been a few heroic souls who have been in advance of their time, who have
been misunderstood…persecuted, sometimes put to the death.”
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“…when American colonists were still foreign subjects…to speak against the king was treason…
Washington, Adams, Paine, these were the rebels of the day.”
Thomas Paine
http://www.historicaldocuments.com/ThomasPaine'sCommonSense.htm
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“At a later time…It was against…the institution of slavery…that
controlled the President, both branches of Congress, the Supreme Court, the press…And again there were a few lovers of liberty who
appeared.”
http://www.hstc.org/frederickdouglass.htm
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“I believe in patriotism... I love the flag as a symbol of freedom. I object only when that flag is prostituted…
to sordid ends…in the name of patriotism, would keep people in
subjection…”
http://www.jeffmccord.org/?p=199
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“Yes, I was opposed to the war. I am perfectly willing…to be branded a disloyalist, and if it is a crime …punishable by imprisonment, for
being opposed to bloodshed, I am perfectly willing to be clothed in
the stripes of a convict…”
http://www.marxists.org/glossary/people/d/pics
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“I believe in the Constitution…Isn’t it strange that we Socialists stand
almost alone in defending the Constitution of the United States.”
http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/University_of_Minnesota_to_observe_Constitution_Day_with_Law_School_presentation.html
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“The Revolutionary fathers… understood that free speech and
free press and the right to assemblage by the people were the
fundamental principles of democratic government…It can be
understood by a child…”
http://www.militaryartgallery.com/HTML_3a/founding_fathers.htm
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“That is the right that I exercised …and for the exercise of that right, I
now have to answer to this indictment (charge). I believe in the right of free speech in war as well
as in peace.” – Eugene Debs
http://www.marxists.org/glossary/people/d/pics?C=N;O=D
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It made little impression to the jury. Debs was sentenced to ten years
and stripped of his U.S. citizenship.
http://www.phschool.com/atschool/constitution/constitution1b.html
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Though imprisoned, Debs won 1 million votes in the 1920 presidential election.
http://www.icc.coop/houses/debs/debs2.html
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The following year, President Warren C. Harding ordered Debs
released. In 1976, the government restored his citizenship
posthumously (after his death.)