Chapter 6 Short Answer Essays
Write a summary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Schenck v. United States.
The court upheld Schenck’s conviction under the Espionage Act. In his opinion, Justice Oliver
Wendell Holmes said that the First Amendment right to free speech did not extend to speech that
creates a “clear and present danger.” As an example of this, Holmes pointed out that a person
does not have the right to shout “Fire!” in a public place where there is no fire, because this
could cause a panic in which people could be hurt or killed. Holmes said that the language in
Schenck’s leaflets created a clear and present danger and therefore was not protected under the
First Amendment.
Explain how the weapons and tactics used during World War I affected the number of
combat deaths.
Defensive weapons and tactics used during World War I were highly effective. These included
trench warfare, machine guns, and artillery field guns. These weapons and tactics led to high
casualties among attacking forces, especially since commanders often continued to order troops
to advance against fortified trenches.