The American Defense Society (ADS) was a nationalist American political group founded in 1915. The ADS was formed to advocate for American intervention in World War I against the

German Empire The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...

. The group later stood in opposition to the Bolsheviks, who came to power in Russia after the October Revolution of 1917, and the proposed American participation in the League of Nations. In domestic politics, the ADS launched a campaign eliminate to eliminate instruction of the

German language German ( ) is a West Germanic languages, West Germanic language mainly spoken in Central Europe. It is the most widely spoken and Official language, official or co-official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Ita ...

in the United States. As a nationalist outfit, the ADS demanded "100 percent Americanism" amid fears over the loyalties of "

hyphenated Americans In the United States, the term hyphenated American refers to the use of a hyphen (in some styles of writing) between the name of an ethnicity and the word "American" in compound nouns, e.g., as in "Irish-American". Calling a person a "hyphenated ...

". The organization's first honorary president was former President Theodore Roosevelt. After declining post-World War I, the ADS made a brief resurgence prior to World War II, where the group fought President

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...

's effort to expand the

Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

Formation

Clarence Smedley Thomas, Cushing Stetson, and John F. Hubbard formed the ADS in August 1915 as a splinter group from the

National Security League The National Security League (NSL) was an American patriotic, nationalistic, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supported a greatly-expanded military based upon universal service, the naturalization and Americanization of immigrants, America ...

(NSL). They objected to the NSL for being uncritical in support of the

Wilson administration Woodrow Wilson's tenure as the 28th president of the United States lasted from 4 March 1913 until 4 March 1921. He was largely incapacitated the last year and a half. He became president after winning the 1912 election. Wilson was a Democrat ...

. Like the NSL, the ADS favored progressivism and its reform programs, but the ADS was much more militarist and nationalistic than the NSL.

Leadership

The ADS's first honorary president was former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.''New York Times''
"Theodore Roosevelt to be Honored Today," October 27, 1943
accessed March 30, 2010 The chairman of the ADS was

Richard Melancthon Hurd Richard Melancthon Hurd (June 14, 1865 – June 6, 1941) was a pioneer real estate economist and political activist. Hurd was born in New York City and attended St. Paul's School. He graduated from Yale University in 1888, where he was a memb ...

, a close friend of Roosevelt and a career real estate economist.

Goals

Among the political positions of the ADS were: * Total victory against Germany in World War I, with no discussion of peace terms * Centralized organization of national industry, as accomplished temporarily under the War Industries Board * Expulsion of socialists from US politics * Suppression of

sedition Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that tends toward rebellion against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent toward, or insurrection against, estab ...

* One hundred percent Americanism In February 1918, the Society called on Congress to take action on a series of measures required by US entry into World War I. It wanted an "overwhelming force" sent to France: "the quicker we put our full strength into the war the sooner it will be over." It called for the internment of enemy aliens and sympathizers to prevent sabotage because "if enough munition factories are blown up here we shall lose the war." It claimed that England saw an end to foreign plots and propaganda after interning 70,000. On the educational and cultural front, the Society was uncompromising:

"The appalling and complete breakdown of German ''Kultur'' compels a sweeping revision of the attitude of civilized nations and individuals toward the
German language German ( ) is a West Germanic languages, West Germanic language mainly spoken in Central Europe. It is the most widely spoken and Official language, official or co-official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Ita ...
, literature, and science. The close scrutiny of German thought induced by 'Hun' frightfulness in this war has revealed abhorrent qualities hitherto unknown, and to most people unsuspected. Hereafter, throughout every English-speaking country on the globe, the German language will be a dead language. Out with it forever!"

The ADS also called for compulsory military training for all men between the ages of 18 and 21''New York Times''
"Calls for Strict Ban on German Language," February 25, 1918
accessed January 7, 2010 In late 1918, it launched a campaign to eliminate instruction in

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

nationwide.''New York Times''
"To Fight German Teaching," December 31, 1918
accessed January 7, 2010

Interwar period

After World War I, the ADS joined the campaign against American participation in the League of Nations. It described the League as a surrender of national sovereignty "obnoxious to the Constitution of the United States." It denounced "the impossible doctrines of the self-determination of races which is contrary to our fundamental doctrines as a nation." The ADS was officially nonpartisan, but in 1920, Charles Stewart Davison, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, wrote an open letter to its officers, members, and contributors to urging them to support the Republican presidential ticket of Warren Harding and

Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; ; July 4, 1872January 5, 1933) was the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929. Born in Vermont, Coolidge was a History of the Republican Party (United States), Republican lawyer ...

. The manager of the ADS's Washington Bureau in the 1920s was Richard Merrill Whitney, the author of an exposé of radical activity, ''The Reds in America''. The ADS made a brief resurgence during the years immediately before World War II. The group conducted a campaign against the attempt of President

Franklin Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...

to "pack" the US Supreme Court by expanding its number of members.Melissa Haley
"Guide to the Records of the American Defense Society, 1915-1942.
New-York Historical Society.

Final years

Later, the group was hamstrung by the death of two of its principals: Chairman of the Board of Trustees Davison in 1942 and Board Chairman

Elon Huntington Hooker Elon Huntington Hooker (December 23, 1869 – May 10, 1938) was the founder of Hooker Chemical Company, Hooker Electrochemical Company. Biography From a New England family, Elon Hooker obtained degrees in civil engineering from the Universit ...

in 1948. In its final years, it maintained its public profile by giving awards. In 1939, it presented awards called the Atlantic Fleet Silver Cup for excellence in gunnery and the Distinguished Service Gold Medal for work on behalf of national defense and preparedness.''New York Times''
"To Get Defense Awards," November 26, 1939
accessed March 30, 2010 In 1943, it honored Theodore Roosevelt on the 85th anniversary of his birth. The ADS seems to have essentially been terminated by Davison's death and finally disappeared from New York City directories in 1956.

References

Sources

''Hand Book of the American Defense Society,''
New York: National Headquarters, February 1918. * Franz, Manuel. "Preparedness Revisited: Civilian Societies and the Campaign for American Defense, 1914-1920," in ''Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era'' 17:4 (2018): 663–676. *

John Higham John Higham is the name of * John Higham (Australian politician) (1856–1927), Western Australian Legislative Assembly Member * John Higham (historian) (1920–2003), American historian * John Sharp Higham John Sharp Higham (14 June 1857 – 5 ...

, ''Strangers in the Land.'' New York: Atheneum, 1981. * William Temple Hornaday
''A Searchlight on Germany: Germany's Blunders, Crime and Punishment.''
New York: American Defense Society, 1917. * William Temple Hornaday
''The Lying Lure of Bolshevism.''
New York: American Defense Society, 1919.

External links

{{Authority control Political advocacy groups in the United States Anti-German sentiment in the United States World War I propaganda United States home front during World War I Organizations established in 1915 1915 establishments in the United States Anti-communist organizations in the United States Nationalism in the United States Xenophobia in North America