Censorship During Wartime in the United States

Com 208 — Hailey Lantigua

The Stamp Act of 1765.

The Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1918.

The Code of Wartime Practices.

During periods of war, Americans’ First Amendment rights become a hot topic of contention. On one hand, the circulation of news provides much-needed updates for citizens unable to get reliable information from anywhere else. On the other hand, such free-flowing news may provide the enemy with updates they would not have known about otherwise, which puts Americans into even more danger than ever.

So then, what should be done during trying times?

The United States has not yet found an answer, but the actions taken by the government in the past may point to what the future has in store. This exhibit features the various ways that censorship took a toll on communications during wartime in the United States, outlining some key figures, documents, and technologies used at that time.