State Historical Society of Iowa

"Now for a Round Up," 1918

 Download Image Resource

Courtesy of Library of Congress, "Now for a Round Up," 1918

Description

After the Sedition Act, passed on May 16, 1918, augmented the already stringent Espionage Act of 1917, the New York Herald ran this cartoon by William Allen Rogers touting Uncle Sam's expanded authority to "round up" those that would oppose the government. Rogers identifies the undesirables as spies, Irish separatists, and radical anti-war International Workers of the World, commonly known as the "Wobblies." The law now made it illegal at the time of war to "willfully utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government … the Constitution … the military or naval forces … the flag … or the uniform of the Army or Navy of the United States.

Source Dependent Questions

  • What justifications for the Sedition Act are outlined in this cartoon? Using evidence from the cartoon, why did the United States need to broaden the scope of what was considered harmful speech during World War I?
  • Consider how the cartoonist depicts the Industrial Workers of the World in his image. Why would the United States need to control workers during World War I?
  • What American values are most important according to this image?

Citation Information

William Allen Rogers. Now for a Round Up. Published in the New York Herald, May 9, 1918. Prints and Photographs. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress

State Historical Society of Iowa

How can we help?

Share feedback with us