National Security In-Class Essay
Name: ________________________________________________
Date: _________
Directions: Answer prompt on a separate sheet of paper. Make sure to look at the scoring rubric when writing
your answer. Write your name on the back side. Write a 4-5 paragraph essay, you do not need a conclusion.
Essay Prompt: How should a democracy balance the government’s need to protect its citizens (the common
good) with citizens’ individual rights to constitutional protections including freedom of expression and
protection from unreasonable search and seizure?
•
Introduction: Take a position on whether giving up some liberty for national security is an appropriate
response? Do the ends justify the means? Should we trade off liberty for security?
•
2-3 Body Paragraphs: Include evidence to support your answer from the following historical examples:
The Sedition Act of 1798, the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Palmer Raids, Japanese Internment during
World War II, and the Patriot Act as a response to 9/11.
•
1 Body Paragraph: Analyze a quote by Thomas Jefferson that supports your position.
•
Topic Sentences: Write an appropriate topic sentence for each content paragraph – what is the main
point that your supporting evidence is going to make? How does it support your thesis statement?
Scoring Rubric
4 – Exceeds
expectations
Thesis
 Set scene for
Statement
topic
Evidence x 
3


Quote

Average = __/4
accurate
supporting
evidence
at least three
historical
examples
all paragraphs
have topic
sentences
accurate analysis
of two quotes
that support your
thesis
3 – Meets standard
2 – Almost there


Takes a position
on the issue

supporting
evidence from a
historical
example
a paragraph has
a topic sentence

an analysis of a
Jefferson quote





Takes a position
on the issue
supported by the
evidence
accurate
supporting
evidence
from two
historical
examples
some paragraphs
have topic
sentences
accurate analysis
of a Jefferson
quote that
supports thesis
Adjusted score = __/10


1 – Needs
0
Improvement
Missing
 May take a
position on the
issue

May include
historical
evidence
and/or
a topic
sentence
Missing
May include
an analysis of
a quote
Missing
Historical Examples of the United States reducing or denying rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution
1. Sedition Act of 1798 – from your notes
2. Espionage Act – 1917
• Prompted in part by anti-immigrant feelings
• Jail term up to 20 years and/or $10,000 fine
• Cannot obstruct the sale of war bonds, interfere with the draft, say anything disloyal or abusive about
the government or war effort
• 6,000 arrested, 1,500 convicted (mostly Socialists)
• Magazines and newspapers that opposed the war lost mailing privileges (Postal Service part of
Federal gov.)
• Strike organizers were convicted of opposing the war effort – Eugene V. Debbs was sentenced to 10
years for giving a speech about the economic causes of the war but was pardoned by President
Harding after serving three
• Palmer raids – conducted mostly against immigrants, socialists, communists without due process of
law – many were deported
• Little of substance was found to support the raids
3. Executive Order 9066 – Japanese Internment
• Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on 12/7/1941
• Japanese living on West Coast were rounded up and interned for duration of war
• Most lost their homes and possessions
• Many young Japanese men in the camps volunteered to fight and fought bravely (a unit of JapaneseAmericans became the most decorated unit for bravery in the war)
• Korematsu v. United States, 1944 – Supreme Court found that removing Japanese to camps was
justified on the basis of “military necessity.”
• In 1965 Congress authorized $38 million as compensation for loss of property
• In 1989 the U.S. government finally apologized an paid an additional $20,000 to every Japanese
American sent to the camps during the war
4. Patriot Act – from your notes
5. Getting on an airplane today
Every passenger is searched without probable cause
Quotes – explain how they support or contradict your point of view.
Thomas Jefferson Quotes
1. "A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not
the highest. The laws of necessity, of self- preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of
higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law would be to lose the
law itself, with life, liberty, property, and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly
sacrificing the end to the means." --Thomas Jefferson to John Colvin, 1810
2. "Free government is founded in jealousy, not confidence. It is jealousy and not confidence which
prescribes limited constitutions, to bind those we are obliged to trust with power.... In questions of
power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in men, but bind him down from mischief by the chains
of the Constitution." -- Thomas Jefferson, 1799
3. Use a quote from Focus Writing assignments from the week