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