Unsafe for Democracy

In Unsafe for Democracy, historian William H. Thomas Jr. explores how during World War I, the U.S. Department of Justice went beyond official prosecutions to actively monitor, intimidate, and silence diverse groups and individuals perceived as dissenters or threats to the social order. Using reports and undercover investigations, the book reveals a broad, secret campaign that targeted various Americans, often employing threats and warnings to enforce wartime conformity. This historical account highlights a controversial chapter in American civil liberties during the Progressive Era with lasting implications.