America’s entry into World War I triggered a swift and severe crackdown on civil liberties. Unlike previous conflicts, this period saw widespread repression of free speech, dissent, and political activism. Citizens were imprisoned for opposing the war or the draft, sometimes for private expressions of opinion. Newspapers and magazines were shut down, and both organized labor and African American communities faced violent attacks. This class examines the shocking speed and scope of these attacks, exploring how wartime fears reshaped American freedoms and set troubling precedents for civil rights in the decades to come.

In Person - Recorded