The Great Sedition Trial

The Great Sedition Trial (1918-1919) was a legal case during the U.S. Red Scare in which several socialist leaders, including Eugene V. Debs, were prosecuted for allegedly encouraging opposition to the U.S. government and its war efforts during World War I. They were charged with violating the Espionage Act by making speeches that criticized the government and its policies. The trial highlighted tensions between free speech and national security, ending with convictions that reflected the period’s fears of radical political movements. Debs received a significant prison sentence but remained a symbol of dissent and free expression.