Freedom Of Speech: Schenck V. United States

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The United States is known to have the freedom of speech under the Bill of Rights, however, certain speeches could be restricted. The court case Schenck v. United States has classified how the first amendment could be restricted from an individual if it causes a “clear and present danger”. The court ruled that Schenck’s words and expression are not protected under the first amendment as he attempted to disturb military efforts during wartime. The impact of Schenck v. United States was negatively substantial in the United States as it describes that free speech does not have unlimited authority when it comes to causing a clear and present danger to society. Furthermore, the case has negatively affected other court cases with similar aspects …show more content…
United States. As PBS states, “The court famously analogized to man who cries ‘fire!’in a crowded theater … ‘the most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic” (PBS). The effects of the court case are seen today when courts restrict speeches that cause a clear and present danger. This gives more authoritarian power for courts to interpret what is a “clear and present danger” further limiting the rights of the people. It is not to be confused with threat rhetoric that is not protected under the First Amendment. The court case was eventually partially overruled by the Supreme Court in Brandenburg v. Ohio but officially secured that free speech could be drastically limited. Oyez states, the “The Court used a two-pronged test to evaluate speech acts: (1) speech can be prohibited if it is ‘directed at inciting or producing imminent lawless action’ and (2) it is ‘likely to incite or produce such action’” (Oyez). Thus, the limitations of free speech in Brandenburg v. Ohio were solidified and displays how the effects of Schenck v. United States inadvertently affected many prominent court cases
Overall, Schenck v. United States illustrates how one case limited the scope of the 1st amendment's free speech. Along the way, the court case paved the way for other court cases to be settled upon Schenck v. United States results, all of which solidified the deprivation of rights. Ultimately, the impact of Schenck v. United States was negatively substantial as the case redefined the first amendment rights of those in the United

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