World+War+1+and+its+Aftermath

Shaping Public Opinion

Progressives did not think that organizing the economy was enough to ensure the success of the war effort. They also believed the government needed to shape public opinion. Right after the war was declared, President Wilson created the Committee on Public Information (CPI). This was created to sell the war to The American people. The CPI recruited advertising executives, artists, authors, song writers, entertainers, public speakers, and motion picture companies to help sell war to the public. CPI also arranged thousands of short patriotic talks. These talks where known as the "four-minute speeches." These speeches were held in movie theaters and other public places. About 75,000 speakers, known also as the Four-minute men, urged audiences to support the war.

After that law was passed wartime fears also led to attacks on German Americans, labor activists, socialists, and pacifists. Ads urged Americans to monitor them. Americans formed private groups, such as the American Protective League and the Boy Spies of America.

The Government didn't just use propaganda, they limited oppostion to the war. The government passed the Espionage Act of 1917. This act made it illegal to aid the enemy in any way. But this act was upheld in court because the first amendment states the "Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press." The Government court ruled that they could restrict speech when the words constitute a "clear and present danger."