Espionage Act of 1917

The Espionage Act of 1917 was created to protect the United States from subversive activity but was used to suppress opposition to World War I and U.S. involvement in Russia following the war. Despite its suppression of dissent, the Espionage Act survived several constitutional challenges. After the war, it fell into disuse but it remains a tool for the United States as it seeks creative ways to fight the war on terror.

In 1914, Europe began fighting what would become World War I. Primarily, the war involved Great Britain, France, and ...