Espionage Act of 1917 and Sedition Act of 1918

      Mrs. Wilson supported her husband during these trying times, embracing the Acts. Neither did anything to curtail the anti-German sentiment, unfortunately, which seemed to spread across the land. As it dug in deeper, the President did an about face and committed our troops to the war effort.



Rosenberg's



The Sedition Act was basically a series of amendments, which broadened the Espionage Act, taking away Freedom of Speech. Movie stars, authors, poets, plus many citizens and elected officials, who spoke out against the war, were all subject to the power of the president. Many were jailed, ostracized publicly and silenced by any possible means.

     Anyone who opposed the war effort or spoke in favor of the German government was under scrutiny. The term Frankfurt became hotdog because of the German association. Germans were Americanizing their names and denying their heritage. Socialists such as Eugene Debs, a multi-presidential candidate, was jailed for “obstructing recruiting”. Our nation was under siege because of this law. No longer was the press able to report the truth nor were citizens allowed to speak freely. Even personal mail was confiscated from citizens—that’s you and I. When the Industrial Workers of the World organization sympathized with workers throughout the world, including Russia, some were imprisoned or extradited from the United States and forced to give up citizenship.

Emma Goldman