A few years ago, I got access to Widener Library at Harvard to look at the microfilms of the NY Daily Call, the Socialist newspaper, for some research I was doing. I scanned every issue from around 1914 to 1920 and gathered material for the work I was doing. Here are some of the news items that struck me.
The USA declared war on Germany and her Allies on April 2, 1917
Philadelphia Socialist arrested in late June, early July
Post Office suppressed publications that talked about war and conscription - Postmaster General Burleson
LaFollette expelled from the Senate
Attempt to close down Socialist papers for writing about war and conscription
Sunday, September 23 - rally of 20,000 Socialists at Madison Square Garden
Bread riots in NYC the winter of 1917
November 4, 1917 "tens of thousands" in torch light parade around East Side (led by Jacob Panken) from Rutgers Square and back again
November 8, 1917 Socialists win 18 state and City posts - 10 assemblymen, 7 aldermen, and one municipal court judge, Jacob Panken
November 24, 1917 protest against food and fuel shortage at Madison Square Garden
November 25, 1917 NY port under martial law
January 1918 Coal shortage closes factories across Northeast; NYC newsboys strike
March 7, 1918 First woman to vote in NY, Mrs CW Rogers
March 30, 1918 Saturday - Socialists want living wage for city labor - Socialist aldermen call for minimum wage for city workers
Apri 28, 1918 - Max Eastman and editors of the masses have a hung jury on charge of interfering with the draft
July 2, 1918 Tuesday - Debs arrested for sedition
August 8, 1918 - Spanish flu reported
September 9 -14, 1918 - Debs trial
October 15, 1918 - Kitty Marion goes to jail for promoting birth control
October 18, 1918 - flu vaccine
November 1, 1918 - Art Young's Political Primer: What is Socialism? It is business operated for public benefit instead of private profit.
November 7, 1918 "Flu epidemic virtually over"
November 11, 1918 - WWI ends
November 1919 - American Legion harrassing IWW and Socialists and Communists around the country
January 8, 1920 - US Hunts Radicals of 33 Cities in New Raids - 2000 warrants issued, 880 in New York
January 8, 1920 - 5 Socialist NY Assemblymen suspended
January 25, 1920 - Communist Party Outlawed; Raids to Continue; Influenza Wave Sweeps Nation
March 14, 1920 - Debs agrees to be Socialist Party Presidential candidate while in Atlanta Federal Prison
April 2, 1920 - NY Asssembly expels 5 Socialists
May 5, 1920 front page: Gun Men Attack Miners in W VA [Matewan]
It is interesting to note that EV Debs spent more time in jail for speaking against WWI than the USA spent fighting the war.