The war to end all wars

US declares War April 6, 1917 America’s reaction to declaration of war Many people still didn’t want to enter into war Distant war, not ours to fight Wanted to remain isolationists 6 senators and 50 representatives, including the first Congresswoman, Jeanette Ranking, voted against war. “Make the world safe for democracy” - Wilson

Committee on Public Information, headed by George Creel 75,000 men to deliver speeches in favor of the war – 4 minute men posters and billboards that had emotional appeals to get Americans to sign up for the military, conserve goods, and/or buy bonds to contribute money to the war effort Showed anti-German movies like The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin.

Espionage Act - passed by Congress in 1917 after the United States entered World War I. $10,000 fine and 20 years' imprisonment for interfering with the recruiting of troops or the disclosure of information dealing with national defense. Additional penalties were included for the refusal to perform military duty. Over the next few months around 900 went to prison under the Espionage Act.

Sedition Amendment : passed in 1918 Forbade Americans from using "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the United States government, flag, or armed forces during war. The act also allowed the Postmaster General to deny the delivery of mail that did not support the war Foreign language newspapers Communications with relatives Anti-draft efforts

Socialist Eugene V. Debs was sentenced to 10 years in prison for violating the Sedition Amendment, only serves 2 ½ years due to ill health About 1,100 were arrested under the Sedition Amendment After the war, there were presidential pardons (from Warren G. Harding), but a few people still sat in jail into the 1930s.

The Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Amendment of 1918 showed American fears/paranoia about Germans and other perceived threats. MOST TARGETED AND ARRESTED WERE ACTUALLY SOCIALISTS, NOT NECESSARILY GERMANS. Many socialists were anti-war Did not feel workers should sacrifice rights during a time of war

Do you think the Espionage and Sedition Acts were justified? What if there were similar acts passed today? How would you react?