- This case had been a landmark decision regarding the issues of free speech and its relation to the Espionage Act and Sedition Act.
- The case arose when Abrams had been accused of distributing anti-war leaflets -- the first being an call for a withdrawal of troops from Russia and the second being a condemnation of the nation's effort towards war and keep them away from Russia.
- The case had been brought to the Supreme Court and it had been decided that Abrams was guilty, similar to the ruling of Schenck v. U.S., and he had been convicted on the grounds of violations of the Espionage Act and Sedition Act. This created the precedent of War negatively affecting free speech.