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During American involvement in World War I, Kansas Governor Arthur Capper kept this file of correspondence on suspected German sympathizers and persons thought to be disloyal to the U.S. government. Such persons were commonly referred to as "slackers." The file includes letters from Kansas residents informing the governor of suspected sympathizers or dissidents, letters from Governor Capper to accused residents, letters from accused residents to the governor denying such charges, and letters between the governor's office and various local and federal agencies. Early and widespread, public opposition to American involvement in WWI gave way to fervent patriotism and intolerance of dissent shortly after America entered the conflict in April of 1917. Several federal initiatives under President Woodrow Wilson (such as the Committee on Public Information, the Espionage Act of 1917, and the Sedition Act of 1918) contributed to the domestic war hysteria and placed severe limits on individual civil liberties.
Creator: Kansas. Governor (1915-1919: Capper)
Date: 1917-1918
Capper's "Slackers File" file is an excellent example of the level of anti-German sentiment throughout the U.S.. As a result, Capper's file can be used to provide students with an awareness of the level of distrust and the actions taken to guarantee the loyalty and cooperation of all citizens during World War I.
KS: 11th: 1.7.: challenges German Americans faced in Kansas during World War I
Item Number: 212615
Call Number: Governor's Papers, Governor Arthur Capper, Correspondence Files, Alphabetical File Box 36 Folder 11
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 212615
Agriculture - Crops - Wheat
Collections - State Archives - Governor's Records - Capper, Arthur
Community Life - Clubs and organizations - Charitable - Red Cross
Community Life - Community services - Economic development
Curriculum - 11th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - 1877-1930 (Kansas_Benchmark 1) - German Americans (Indicator 7)
Date - 1910s - 1917
Date - 1910s - 1918
Government and Politics - Federal Government - Federal agencies and programs - Agencies - Attorney General
Government and Politics - Local Government - County - Attorney
Government and Politics - State Government - Governors - Capper, Arthur
Military - Wars - World War I
Military - Wars - World War I - Homefront
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Correspondence
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Letter
People - Notable Kansans - Capper, Arthur, 1865-1951
Thematic Time Period - World War I, 1914 - 1919
Type of Material - Unpublished documents - Government records - Correspondence
Type of Material - Unpublished documents - Letters
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/212615
