It has been said by many that 1917 marked the end of innocence for America and its citizens. The year had begun optimistically; the vast majority of Americans who paid federal income taxes fell into the 1 percent bracket, and employment was up as the country benefited from selling war materials and food to the Allies fighting in Europe. Meanwhile, former New Jersey governor Woodrow Wilson had won a second term as president in a narrow victory with the slogan “he kept us out of war.”

Unfortunately, things were beginning to change.