eugene debs defends political dissent – ww i

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Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I p://www.flickr.com/photos/47687159@N00/421702333/ Primary content source: The Story of Us by Joy Hak

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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 Presentation

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Page 1: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

Eugene Debsdefends political dissent – WW I

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47687159@N00/421702333/ Primary content source: The Story of Us by Joy Hakim

Page 2: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

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

Page 3: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

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

Page 4: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

At times, patriotism degenerated into anti-German hysteria, nativism,

and intolerance.

http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/australia.htm

Page 5: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

Despite this hostile climate, anti-war protestors, political radicals, and pacifists continued to oppose

the war.

http://www.drugwar.com/propaganda.shtm

Page 6: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

To suppress this dissent (voice), government officials instituted severe restrictions on speech.

http://huquq.com/WordPress?p=19

Page 7: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

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/

Page 8: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

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

Page 9: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

Public officials imprisoned thousands of pacifists, antiwar activists, and political radicals.

Page 10: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

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/

Page 11: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

While imprisoned, Debs read many political texts and grew highly

critical of capitalism.

Page 12: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

Upon his release, he converted to socialism and led the Socialist

Party of America for many years (also their presidential

candidate.)

Page 13: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

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/

Page 14: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

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/

Page 15: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

“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.”

Page 16: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

“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…”

Page 17: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

“When great changes occur in history, when great principles are

involved, as a rule the majority are wrong. The minority are right…”

Page 18: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

“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.”

Page 19: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

“…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

Page 20: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

“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

Page 21: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

“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

Page 22: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

“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

Page 23: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

“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

Page 24: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

“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

Page 25: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

“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

Page 26: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

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

Page 28: Eugene Debs defends political dissent – WW I

The following year, President Warren C. Harding ordered Debs

released. In 1976, the government restored his citizenship

posthumously (after his death.)