Mothers' Movement
Encyclopedia
Mothers' Movement was an American
confederation of anti-World War II
, anti-Roosevelt, far right
groups. Mothers' Movement consisted of: National Legion of Mothers of America formed by Father Charles Coughlin
in 1939; National Blue Star Mothers; Crusading Mothers of America; We, the Mothers; and We, the Mothers, Mobilize for America.
Unlike other non-interventionist groups, this alliance of groups did not disperse after the United States entered World War II, and became even more vocal. They picketed the United States Capitol
, harangued Senators
, and went on a speaking tour around the country. These activities continued until the Great Sedition Trial of 1944.
, several groups continued to rally against the United States joining the war. A large number of women opposed the war efforts in order to keep their sons out of combat, leading to the creation of the "Mother's Movements" led by women such as Elizabeth Dilling
, Catherine Curtis, and Lyrl Clark Van Hyning. The group was made up of many organizations in different states, including the National League of Mothers of America and "We the Mothers, Mobilize for America". The movement originated in California and then gradually became a decentralized confederation of 50 to 100 groups that developed on the west coast, midwest, and east coast. The members of these groups were very diverse in age, religion, class, and education, but the leaders were mainly white, middle-aged college-educated Christians from the upper middle-class. The groups published books, pamphlets, and newsletters arguing that the war should be stopped. The members testified before congress, picketed the White House, collected petitions, and participated in political campaigns. The leaders most likely learned their organizing experience from women's clubs, political parties, or movements led by men.
of 1940 and the Sedition Act
of 1917; the defendants were held to be pro-fascist participants in a Nazi conspiracy
. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
pressured U.S. Attorney General Francis Biddle
to indict these activists for sedition
. Some of the leaders that were called to testify before the grand jury
were Elizabeth Dilling, Catherine Curtis, and Lyrl Clark Van Hyning. A mistrial was declared on November 29, 1944, some time after the death of the trial judge, ex-congressman Edward C. Eicher
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
confederation of anti-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, anti-Roosevelt, far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
groups. Mothers' Movement consisted of: National Legion of Mothers of America formed by Father Charles Coughlin
Charles Coughlin
Father Charles Edward Coughlin was a controversial Roman Catholic priest at Royal Oak, Michigan's National Shrine of the Little Flower church. He was one of the first political leaders to use radio to reach a mass audience, as more than thirty million tuned to his weekly broadcasts during the...
in 1939; National Blue Star Mothers; Crusading Mothers of America; We, the Mothers; and We, the Mothers, Mobilize for America.
Unlike other non-interventionist groups, this alliance of groups did not disperse after the United States entered World War II, and became even more vocal. They picketed the United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
, harangued Senators
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, and went on a speaking tour around the country. These activities continued until the Great Sedition Trial of 1944.
History
After the attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, several groups continued to rally against the United States joining the war. A large number of women opposed the war efforts in order to keep their sons out of combat, leading to the creation of the "Mother's Movements" led by women such as Elizabeth Dilling
Elizabeth Dilling
Elizabeth Dilling Stokes was an American anti-communist and later antisemitic social activist, as well as an anti-war campaigner and writer in the 1930s and '40s. She stood trial for sedition in what is now called the Great Sedition Trial of 1944.The author of four political books, Dilling...
, Catherine Curtis, and Lyrl Clark Van Hyning. The group was made up of many organizations in different states, including the National League of Mothers of America and "We the Mothers, Mobilize for America". The movement originated in California and then gradually became a decentralized confederation of 50 to 100 groups that developed on the west coast, midwest, and east coast. The members of these groups were very diverse in age, religion, class, and education, but the leaders were mainly white, middle-aged college-educated Christians from the upper middle-class. The groups published books, pamphlets, and newsletters arguing that the war should be stopped. The members testified before congress, picketed the White House, collected petitions, and participated in political campaigns. The leaders most likely learned their organizing experience from women's clubs, political parties, or movements led by men.
The Great Sedition Trial
The Mother's Movement was involved in the Great Sedition Trial of 1944, in which the government charged an assortment of 30 heterogeneous individuals with violations of the Smith ActSmith Act
The Alien Registration Act or Smith Act of 1940 is a United States federal statute that set criminal penalties for advocating the overthrow of the U.S...
of 1940 and the Sedition Act
Sedition Act
Sedition Act may refer to:*Alien and Sedition Acts, including the Sedition Act of 1798, laws passed by the United States Congress*Sedition Act 1661, an English statute that largely relates to treason...
of 1917; the defendants were held to be pro-fascist participants in a Nazi conspiracy
Conspiracy (political)
In a political sense, conspiracy refers to a group of persons united in the goal of usurping or overthrowing an established political power. Typically, the final goal is to gain power through a revolutionary coup d'état or through assassination....
. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
pressured U.S. Attorney General Francis Biddle
Francis Biddle
Francis Beverley Biddle was an American lawyer and judge who was Attorney General of the United States during World War II and who served as the primary American judge during the postwar Nuremberg trials....
to indict these activists for sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
. Some of the leaders that were called to testify before the grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
were Elizabeth Dilling, Catherine Curtis, and Lyrl Clark Van Hyning. A mistrial was declared on November 29, 1944, some time after the death of the trial judge, ex-congressman Edward C. Eicher
Edward C. Eicher
Edward C. Eicher was a three-term congressman, federal securities regulator, and federal district court judge during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was considered a consummate "New Deal" liberal....
.