Debs v. United States

Debs v. United States (1919) was a Supreme Court case involving Eugene V. Debs, a labor leader and socialist who was convicted for opposing World War I. He delivered a speech discouraging enlistment and promoting anti-war sentiments. The government argued that his actions violated the Espionage Act, which prohibited interference with the war effort. The Supreme Court upheld his conviction, citing that his speech posed a "clear and present danger" to national security. This case highlighted the tension between free speech rights and government interests during wartime.