World War I - Espionage and Sedition

Kate Richards O'Hare

American Socialist Party Activist who toured the country making speeches against the war. Served 1 year in prison for stating that American women were "nothing more nor less than brood sows, to raise children to get in the army and be made into fertilizer."

International Workers of the World

Also known as IWW or Wobblies - socialist labor organization that followed ideas based off of Karl Marx. Leaders of this organization were put into prison for espionage.

Liberty Bond

Bonds where Americans could lend money to the government to pay for the war.

The Boy Spies of America

Children's association whose members were encouraged to spy on neighbors and demand to inspect Draft Cards.

$10,000 fine and a prison sentence of 20 years.

Conviction given to anyone found guilty of obstructing the Draft as part of the Espionage Act.

June 15, 1917

Date the Espionage Act was passed.

May 16, 1918

Date the Sedition Act was passed.

Robert Goldstein

Film maker who was sent to prison for 10 years for "undermining american morale" because he created a movie called, "The Spirit of '76" about the American Revolution and it made British Soldiers look bad, which could undermine American support for the British during WWI.

Friedrich Engles

German Philosopher who co-wrote The Communist Manifesto.

Karl Marx

German Philosopher who wrote The Communist Manifesto

The American Protective League

This organization was created to help identify radicals and German sympathizers during the War

spy

a person who secretly collects and reports information on the activities, movements, and plans of an enemy or competitor.

Communist

a person who supports or believes in the principles of communism

Socialist

a person who supports or believes in the principles of socialism.

Socialism

a political and economic theory of social organization that believes that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

Communism

a political theory by Karl Marx, advocating class war and a society in which all property is publicly owned

rebellion

organized resistance to one's government or ruler.

Enlist

to join the armed forces

sedition

treason, rebellion against the government, especially with writing or speech

Lusitania

A British passenger ship that was sunk by a German U-Boat on May 7, 1915. 128 Americans died. The sinking greatly turned American opinion against the Germans, helping the move towards entering the war.

Draft

A system of required military service

Espionage Act

Act passed in 1917 that made it a crime for any person to share information intended to interfere with the U.S. armed forces or to promote the success of the country's enemies. No spying.

Sedition Act

Act passed in 1918 that furthered the Espionage act and found people guilty of making false statements that interfered with the prosecution of the war; insulting or abusing the U.S. government, the flag, the Constitution or the military; agitating against the production of necessary war materials; or advocating, teaching or defending any of these acts.

Propaganda

Ideas spread to influence public opinion for or against a cause.

Magazines and Newspapers

Items the Espionage Act gave US postal officials the authority to prohibit.

Selective Service Act

Law passed by Congress in 1917 that required all men from ages 21 to 30 to register for the military draft

Zimmerman Telegram

March 1917. Sent from German Foreign Secretary, addressed to German minister in Mexico City. Mexico should attack the US if US goes to war with Germany. In return, Germany would give back Tex, NM, Arizona etc to Mexico.

The Spirit of 76

Movie made by Robert Goldstein in 1917 about the American Revloution

Communist Manifesto

Political pamphlet written by German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels that discusses class struggle and the problems of Capitalism.

Eugene V. Debs

Protester who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a speech he made in 1918 in Canton, Ohio, criticizing the Espionage Act.

Schenk v. The United States

Supreme Court case where the Supreme Court limited free speech when the words constituted a "clear and present danger."

espionage

The act of spying

Victory Garden

gardens planted by American citizens during war to raise vegetables for home use, leaving more for the troops