- This case had been a landmark decision regarding the issues of the security, safety, and life of the Federal Government in relation to the support of and act of upholding civil rights.
- The case arose when Eugene Dennis, the General Secretary
of the American Communist Party, along with several other high-ranking
communists, was/were arrested and convicted for having violated the Smith Act.
- The case had been brought to the Supreme Court and it had been decided that they had not been acting in accordance with the Smith Act and were to be federally convicted. This set the precedent for future cases and future actions of the people that civil rights, liberties, and specifically free speech were not maintained if it threatened the security, safety, or life of the Federal Government.