Thursday, December 2, 2010
The Espionage Act- Could It Happen Today?
In 1917, the U.S. government passed the Espionage Act to limit opposition to WWI. While the intention was good, it severely limited peoples' right to free speech. History has shown that in certain situations, the citizens of the United States have been willing to suspend or give up certain rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution...why do you think that is? Do you think a law like the Espionage Act could be passed in the United States today? Why or why not?
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They passed the laws because people will start not listening or trusting other people anymore.
ReplyDeleteNo, in the united states today you wouldnt be putting people away for stating there own opinon.
I think that citizens of the U.S have been willing to suspend or give up certain rights guaranteed by the U.S Constitution because maybe they don't feel like some rights in the Constitution are not necessary. I don't think a law like the Espoinage Act could be passed in the U.S today because I feel that freedom of speech is a big thing for us today and is considered very important to have people being able to voice their opinions and it's necessary today too we rely a lot on our people's say. Also I feel that we fought hard to work up to being able to have the right of freedom of speech. I don't even think it would even stop people of speaking their minds they'll say what's on their mind anyway they'll probably wouldn't be stopped and nor should they because everyone should be given a chance to speak up and say whatever they want.
ReplyDeleteThe Citizens would give up there rights because they wouldn't want to give up what they have in possession. For example a man argues about something and him and his family gets kicked out of there home. Also the Espoinage Act would definitely not work now because everyone has there own option and opinion about things
ReplyDeleteI think that the citizens of the United States gave up their rights because they wanted to be supportive of their country during time of war. They wanted to government to believe that all the citizens were supportive of their decision to join the war. I think that it would be possible to pass a law like the Espionage Act today in the United States in certain situations. If the citizens of the U.S. were really angered with another country, the government would probably be able to pass an act like the Espionage Act.
ReplyDeleteI think that the citizens of the U.S. gave up their rights because they considered the Constitution as the rule instead of the law,which means the rule can just make the limit of the right rather than protect it.In my opinion,such law like Espionage Act can not be passed because people today know how to use the law to protect themselves very well,and right of free speech is the based right of human life.Besides,by the mean time Entertainment & Media growing faster and faster,it is almost impossible to limit them from taking things whatever true or not.
ReplyDeleteI think citizens were willing to give up there rights because they love their country and were supportive of the war. If they had something bad to say then they may not have supported the Espionage act but nobody said anything against it meaning they had nothing bad to say about America. However, this could never pass today. We aren't as patriotic anymore. This could never pass today though. People aren't as supportive and patriotic. Now freedom of speech is one of the most important things.
ReplyDeleteI feel that people would still give up their rights today because they would be afraid of the consequences for example if someone catches you sayin something bad about your country u get senteced to no more then 20 years I don't hink they would risk their freedom just for freedom of speech !
ReplyDeleteI think people in the U.S. were willing to give up rights during a war because of fear. During WWI there was many immigrants who might have opposed decisions made by the U.S. if it affected where they immigrated from in a negative way. The Espionage Act instilled a feeling of comfort for those who fear riots or chaos against the war. I also think the U.S. wanting to become a higher power created nationalism, which is another reason people may have allowed rights to be taken away for a period of time. I do not think a law like this would be accepted today. At the time of WWI people were just becoming familiar with the U.S. becoming a world power, which allowed the government to have more support. Today, many people value right such as freedom of speech, and many would not support war if they got their rights taken away.
ReplyDeletePeople have to show certain unity in critical situations such as during WW1. Thus, If the U.S. were to win the war, they couldn't follow individual thoughts and individual opinions couldn't be uttered. People were feared and didn't know what the war or opposing the rules could bring. They were more likely to go with the flow than today's citizens. This law could never be passed these days. Racial or any other humankind equality issues wouldn't alow it.
ReplyDeleteI think to a certian degree U.S. citizens would be willing to give up there freedom of speech, because they trust it was for good intentions. They had come to this country for a reason. Now that they were apart of it they shoud feel loyal and help the country that gave them a second chance and a new life.
ReplyDeleteToday the population of the U.S is much more diverse. Generations of different cultures have planted there roots here. It would be difficult to restrict people of there rights when we have come such a long way in getting rid of racism. Also people have realized how strong there opinions could be and would rise against something that they didnt like. I don't think the espionage act would pass today.
wouldn't*
ReplyDeleteI think u.s citizens gave up their rights so easily because they still didn't know their rights of free speech that well and they were worried about the consequences that they could have suffered if they had disagreed with the gov't.
ReplyDeletePeople would not let the gov't make something like the espionage act nowadays because they know what their rights are and they know how to protect them, the u.s would be in big troubles if they would make it, they wouldn't get any unity but only protests and stuff like that, if you force someone to do something even if he/she wanted to do it before he/she will probably do the opposit.
I don't believe this could happen today, because the people would not allow it. The same would happen with a draft. Modern U.S government is more focused on the people nowadays, so if anything like this passed, the majority of the party that created the idea would most likely be voted out of office.
ReplyDeleteI believe that citizens have given up rights in the past due to their acknowledgement of the dire situations at hand. today, however, i do not believe that anything like this would be accepted by the public due to our society viewing self expression as a fundamental right and not a privilege.
ReplyDeletei dont think the us would ever give up there freedom to speech. it stands for to many things in this world is way to impoartand. The Espionage Act supports the us enemies i could never see this act be approved.
ReplyDelete