Conclusion

While Connecticut and the United States as a whole took extensive measures to prevent espionage and industrial and domestic sabotage, free speech was silenced under the Espionage Act to stop war dissenters. It was justified through extreme nationalism as a sacrifice necessary because of a clear and present danger. There is no clear evidence that these measures prevented an attack on the war effort. The Council of Defense often had to respond after the fact to ensure sabotage could not be repeated, as in the case of stealing rationed food. Alert citizens, who trusted in the Council of Defense, provided the best means of counter-intelligence. The stealing of food rations stopped when the public was made aware of it, and potential threats of sabotage on industrial sectors was stopped by citizens seeing something abnormal or unsettling in their everyday lives. Though many of these reports have been dismissed as unthreatening, the widespread paranoia and suspicion likely raised awareness and stopped possible sabotage plots.

The lessons learned during the First World War continue to the present in preventing domestic terrorism. The slogan “If you see something, say something” is a product of self-policing and suspicion. While many reports may not identify a real threat, a few can prove vital in stopping an attack or act of sabotage.