What was the purpose of the Espionage Act?

The Espionage Act, enacted in 1917 during World War I, aimed primarily to prohibit actions that could disrupt military operations and to suppress dissent against the war effort. Its main purpose was to prevent individuals from supporting adversaries by discouraging activities that could be seen as disloyal or harmful to national security. The law made it a crime to convey false information, cause insubordination in the military, or impede military recruitment, all intended to maintain morale and unity during a tumultuous time.

It didn’t focus on funding military operations or promoting espionage activities directly, nor was it solely about promoting national security in a broad sense. Instead, it was specifically geared towards limiting dissent that could undermine the United States' military efforts during the war, emphasizing the need for control over both public opinion and potential espionage threats posed by disloyal citizens.