There can be little doubt that Emma Goldman was one of the most influential women of her time. A Russian immigrant known for her passionate radicalism, Goldman was a pioneer in the advocacy of free speech, birth control, women's equality, and union organization. Although she was respected as a champion of the poor and oppressed, her anarchist ideals made her a targeted enemy of political elites and the established upper class. Government officials made no secret of their desire to stifle Goldman's dissent. She was harassed, arrested, and incarcerated several times during her tumultuous career. However, it was not until after the United States entered World War I in 1917 that any of the charges levied against Goldman carried any significant force.

In order to promote patriotic, pro-war sentiment among the American public, President Wilson and his Administration orchestrated an aggressively anti-foreign, anti-radical propaganda campaign. A hostile frenzy swept the nation virtually overnight, and it suddenly became acceptable to deny basic freedoms to certain American citizens. Given this new political climate, government officials were finally able to take decisive action against "Red Emma." In 1919 the famed lady anarchist was arrested and deported to Russia. The final prosecution of Goldman would never have been possible without the government's efforts to create uncritical support for the war effort. Ultimately, Emma Goldman's story offers a case study of how the United States Government systematically crushed civil liberties while attempting to engineer public consent for World War I.

(Photograph of Emma Goldman scanned from Harold Evans' The American Century.)

Table of Contents

The Early Years: Emma Goldman Before the War

Emma Goldman Links