Espionage Act of 1917.

In June 1917, two months after the United States declared war against Imperial Germany and a month after the Selective Service Act went into effect, the US Congress passed the Espionage Act. Concerned about the German American and Irish American opposition to the US support of Great Britain and its allies, as well as about potential interference with conscription, Congress defined three new criminal offenses. The act penalized “false statements or reports with intent to interfere with the operation” of military forces, causing “insubordination” in the military, and obstructing enlistment services.