Skip to Main Content

Lesson

Woodrow Wilson and the Espionage Act

Guiding question

Was the Espionage Act of 1917, signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson, a constitutional war measure?

Duration
85 min
Published
Jun 18, 2021
Espionage Act and Sedition Act protest Mr. President there can be no real Thanksgiving for American citizens who are in jail for their belief in free speech
President Woodrow Wilson worried about the influence of subversive elements in the United States—including at first German-Americans and Irish-Americans, and later socialists, communists, and anarchists. In 1915, Wilson asked Congress to pass laws designed to “crush out” the “creatures of passion” who he believed might topple the US government. Congress heeded this call with the Espionage Act of 1917, amended by the Sedition Act in 1918. Criticized by some as unconstitutional, these laws were defended by Wilson and Congress as war measures to enhance the security of the United States.

Founding Principles

Freedom of Speech, Liberty, Rule of Law

Objectives:

Students will:

  • Understand Woodrow Wilson’s fear of the “poison of disloyalty” in the US.
  • Understand challenges to civil liberties in the US before and during World War I.
  • Assess constitutional limits on free speech and whether they change during wartime.
  • Evaluate the constitutionality of the 1917 Espionage Act.

Materials

  • Handout A: Woodrow Wilson and the Espionage Act
  • Handout B: Wilson’s Request
  • Handout C: The Espionage Act (1917)
  • Handout D: “No Conscription” Newsletter
  • Handout E: The “Trial of Emma Goldman”

Lesson Components

ActivityHandout A: Woodrow Wilson and the Espionage Act
ActivityHandout B: Wilson’s Request
ActivityHandout C: The Espionage Act (1917)
ActivityHandout D: “No Conscription” Newsletter
ActivityHandout E: The Trial of Emma Goldman
Sign in as an educator to view teacher materialsSign in →

Lesson plan

85 minClick a phase to open it

More Information

To create a context for this lesson, have students complete Constitutional Connection: War and the Constitution.

Standards

Check whether this resource aligns with your state’s standards →

Related materials

The Constitution primary source
Primary SourceThe Constitution

The Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by delegates from 12 states, in order to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new form of government. It created a federal system with a national government composed of 3 separated powers, and included both reserved and concurrent powers of states.

The Bill of Rights primary source
Primary SourceBill of Rights: First 10 Amendments

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. James Madison wrote the amendments, which list specific prohibitions on governmental power, in response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties.

Image featuring text overlay: "PRIMARY SOURCE close read The Sedition Act of 1918" with glasses graphic. Bill of Rights Institute logo included.
VideoReading the Sedition Act of 1918 | A Primary Source Close Read w/ BRI

In 1918, the Sedition Act of 1918, which amended the Espionage Act of 1917, was enacted. This Wilson-era Act imposed harsh freedom-of-speech restrictions in order to sustain domestic war propaganda and suppress public opposition to the war. They were upheld by the Supreme Court and remained in place until 1921. In this dialogue, Tony and Joshua discuss the importance of staying vigilant against government violations of free expression; should wartime circumstances change the types of free-speech protections that are afforded to Americans under the First Amendment?

A historical black and white photo of a submarine with crew members on deck in a harbor setting.
EssayAmerica Enters World War I

Why did the U.S. become involved in World War I?