Unsafe for Democracy: World War I and the U.S. Justice Department's Covert Campaign to Suppress Dissent (Studies in American Thought and Culture)

During the First World War it was the task of the U.S. Department of Justice, using the newly passed Espionage Act and its later Sedition Act amendment, to prosecute and convict those who opposed America's entry into the conflict. In Unsafe for Democracy, historian William H. Thomas Jr. shows that the Justice Department did not stop at this official charge but went much further—paying cautionary visits to suspected dissenters, pressuring them to express support of the war effort, or intimidating them into silence. At times going undercover, investigators tried to elicit the unguarded comments of individuals believed to be a threat to the prevailing social order. In this massive yet largely secret campaign, agents cast their net wide, targeting isolationists, pacifists, immigrants, socialists, labor organizers, African Americans, and clergymen. The unemployed, the mentally ill, college students, schoolteachers, even schoolchildren, all might come under scrutiny, often in the context of the most trivial and benign activities of daily life. Delving into numerous reports by Justice Department detectives, Thomas documents how, in case after case, they used threats and warnings to frighten war critics and silence dissent. This early government crusade for wartime ideological conformity, Thomas argues, marks one of the more dubious achievements of the Progressive Era—and a development that resonates in the present day. Best Books for Special Interests, selected by the American Association of School Librarians “Recommended for all libraries.”—Frederic Krome, Library Journal During World War I it was the task of the U.S. Department of Justice, using the newly passed Espionage Act and its later Sedition Act amendment, to prosecute and convict those who opposed America's entry into the conflict. In Unsafe for Democracy , historian William H. Thomas Jr. shows that the Justice Department did not stop at this official charge but went much further—paying cautionary visits to suspected dissenters, pressuring them to express support of the war effort, or intimidating them into silence. At times going undercover, investigators tried to elicit the unguarded comments of individuals believed to be a threat to the prevailing social order. In this massive yet largely secret campaign, agents cast their net wide, targeting isolationists, pacifists, immigrants, socialists, labor organizers, African Americans, and clergymen. The unemployed, the mentally ill, college students, schoolteachers, even schoolchildren, all might come under scrutiny, often in the context of the most trivial and benign activities of daily life. Delving into numerous reports by Justice Department detectives, Thomas documents how, in case after case, they used threats and warnings to frighten war critics and silence dissent. This early government crusade for wartime ideological conformity, Thomas argues, marks one of the more dubious achievements of the Progressive Era—and a development that resonates in the present day. Best Books for Special Interests, selected by the American Association of School Librarians "Recommended for all libraries."—Frederic Krome, Library Journal "A cautionary tale about what can happen to our freedoms if we take them too lightly."—Dave Wood, Hudson Star-Observer During the First World War it was the task of the U.S. Department of Justice, using the newly passed Espionage Act and its later Sedition Act amendment, to prosecute and convict those who opposed America's entry into the conflict. In Unsafe for Democracy, historian William H. Thomas Jr. shows that the Justice Department did not stop at this official charge but went much further - paying cautionary visits to suspected dissenters, pressuring them to express support of the war effort, or intimidating them into silence. At times going under cover, investigators tried to elicit the unguarded comments of individuals believed to be a threat to the prevailing social order. In this massive yet largely secret campaign, agents cast their net wide, targeting isolationists, pacifists, immigrants, socialists, labor organizers, African Americans, and clergymen. The unemployed, the mentally ill, college students, schoolteachers, even schoolchildren, all might come under scrutiny, often in the context of the most trivial and benign activities of daily life. Delving into numerous reports by Justice Department detectives, Thomas documents how, in case after case, they used threats and warnings to frighten war critics and silence dissent. This early government crusade for wartime ideological conformity, Thomas argues, marks one of the more dubious achievements of the Progressive Era - and a development that resonates in the present day During The First World War It Was The Task Of The U.s. Department Of Justice, Using The Newly Passed Espionage Act And Its Later Sedition Act Amendment, To Prosecute And Convict Those Who Opposed America's Entry Into The Conflict. In Unsafe For Democracy, Historian William H. Thomas Jr. Shows That The Justice Department Did Not Stop At This Official Charge But Went Much Further - Paying Cautionary Visits To Suspected Dissenters, Pressuring Them To Express Support Of The War Effort, Or Intimidating Them Into Silence. At Times Going Undercover, Investigators Tried To Elicit The Unguarded Comments Of Individuals Believed To Be A Threat To The Prevailing Social Order. Delving Into Numerous Reports By Justice Department Detectives, Thomas Documents How, In Case After Case, They Used Threats And Warnings To Frighten War Critics And Silence Dissent. This Early Government Crusade For Wartime Ideological Conformity, Thomas Argues, Marks One Of The More Dubious Achievements Of The Progressive Era - And A Development That Resonates In The Present Day.--jacket. Setting The Stage -- Methods And Ideology -- Policing The Clergy -- Policing The Left -- Policing Wisconsin -- Vigilantism. William H. Thomas, Jr. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 223-238) And Index. Frontmatter Illustrations (page viii) Acknowledgments (page ix) Author's Note (page xi) Prologue (page 3) 1 Setting the Stage (page 9) 2 Methods and Ideology (page 31) 3 Policing the Clergy (page 68) 4 Policing the Left (page 89) 5 Policing Wisconsin (page 110) 6 Vigilantism (page 146) Epilogue (page 172) Appendix: Biographical Information of Justice Department Investigators in Wisconsin (page 179) Notes (page 183) Bibliography (page 223) Index (page 239) During the First World War it was the task of the US Department of Justice, using the Espionage Act and its later Sedition Act amendment, to prosecute and convict those who opposed America's entry into the conflict. This book shows that the Justice Department did not stop at this official charge but went much further.