Sociaist+Sentiment+During+WWI

Opposed to America's entrance into World War I, many socialist groups began to protest. One group in particular, the Industrial Workers of the World, also known as the Wobblies, became a prominent opponent to the war. Initially formed in 1905 as "one big union" to include immigrants, minorities, women, and migrant farm workers, all of whom were excluded from most trade unions; the Wobblies embraced the principles of Marxist class conflict. Rather than seeking labor contracts like the AFL, the Wobblies used direct action strategies such as strikes and protests to achieve their goals, and these strategies often caused violent confrontaion with strike-breakers. When WWI began, however, the Wobblies continued their strikes, and began anti-military rallies. These strikes were aimed at industries important to America's success, and therefore generated political opposition to their actions.
 * [[image:IWW.jpg width="183" height="176" align="right"]]Socialist Anti-WWI Rallies**

At the beginning of World War I, Congress enacted the Espionage Act. This act was not only aimed at stifling anti-war protesters, but also stifed radicals and immigrants. The law prevented interference in foreign policy and espionage. It allowed for fines and prison terms of up to twenty years for those who encouraged disloyalty, or prevented military draft. The Postmaster General could label any mail which he felt violate the act "unmailable." The Espionage Act was effective at prosecuting the Wobblies for encouraging disloyalty, however, a Sedition Act was introduced during 1918 as a more wide-ranging law. It established penalties for speakng out against the goverment, constitution, flag, or uniform; preventing wartime production; promoting the cause of America's enemies; and inciting refusal of military duty. These laws were created in response to the Socialist anti-military stance to the war. They disallowed for radical expression, and stepped on the first amendment right of fee speech.
 * [[image:sedition.jpg width="213" height="315" align="left"]]Espionage and Sedition Acts**

The leader of the Socialist Party of America and a key founding member of the Industrial Workers of the World, Debs initially remained quiet about his anti-war stance. In 1918, however, Debs became angered by the arrest of political radicals for sedition and gave a speech. In hs speech, he attacked Woodrow Wilson's administration for the unconstitutional use of the Espionage and Sediton Acts to silence opposition to the war and imprison radicals. For giving this speech, he was indicted under the Espionage Act and sentenced to two concurrent 10-year sentences in jail.
 * Eugene V. Debs**