History of the FBI

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, is the United States federal law agency that is the principle investigative arm of the Department of Justice. The FBI's primary job in protecting the United States, is "To protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of the United States" ("FBI History"). The FBI's history is broken up into several war and political eras, such as the cold war era following World War Two. The Bureau of Investigation originated in 1908 from a selected group of special agents founded by Charles Bonaparte during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency. The FBI is a reliable organization that is dedicated to prevent foreign attacks and to protect and defend the citizens of the United States of America.

"The Federal Bureau of Investigation originated from a force of Special Agents created in 1908 by Attorney General Charles Bonaparte during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt" ("FBI History"). Both Bonaparte and Roosevelt believed that the group of special agents should be chosen based on their efficiency and expertise, not based on political connections and influences. The group had no commanding officer or leader except the Attorney General; however, the selected special agents were the "forerunners" of the FBI. "By 1907, the Department of Justice most frequently called upon Secret Service operatives to conduct investigations. These men were well-trained, dedicated -- and expensive" ("History"). Bonaparte's Special Agents not only was instructed by the Attorney General, but also was run by the Chief of the Secret Service. Bonaparte was frustrated that his men were working with the Secret Service operatives and that he was not in complete control, so on May 27, 1908, Congress enforced a law that prevented the Department of Justice from working with Secret Service operatives. At the end of Bonaparte's term in 1909, he insisted that his thirty-four Special Agents become a permanent part of the Department of Justice. The new Attorney General, George Wickersham, named the group the Bureau of Investigation.

The history of the FBI is broken up into several time periods of cruelty and achievement. One of the first time periods recorded by the FBI is called the "Lawless Years", 1921-1933. The Lawless Years received its name because of the breakout in gangsterism and the public disregard for Prohibition. In the late 1800s, the Ku Klux Klan was revived after WWI. The Bureau of Investigation used the Mann Act to bring Louisiana KKK members to justice. The Lawless Years era is also known for Hoover's expansion of the agency throughout the nation. On May 24, 1924, Edgar Hoover was appointed Attorney General of the Bureau of Investigation. When Hoover took over, the Bureau of Investigation had approximately 650 employees including 441 Special Agents that worked in field offices throughout nine cities. "By the end of the decade, there were approximately 30 field offices, with Divisional headquarters in New York, Baltimore, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Chicago, Kansas City, San Antonio, San Francisco, and Portland" (Pike). Another example of an FBI historical time period is the World War II era. As world war occurred in Europe, the American Depression continued in the United States. Fascist and Communist movements began in the United States during the war, which the FBI saw as a threat to American security. As the war raged on, the United States began to slip away from the neutral side of the war and began to aid their allies. Soon, the FBI was responsible for "locating draft evaders and deserters" ("History"). The FBI would also later be responsible for sabotage investigations. By the end of World War Two, the United States, as a country, had economically become the most powerful nation in the world.

In the novel 1984, by George Orwell, the party controls everything that has ever occurred in their nation. Whatever the party says, the citizens must believe in and follow accordingly. If any person steps out of line, arrangements are made and the wrong doer is punished by death. The police force in the novel 1984 is called the Thought Police. The Thought Police are similar to the FBI in the United States today. In the novel, The Thought Police has the ability to arrest any person they feel has stepped out of line. There are several differences between the Thought Police and the FBI. In the novel, the Thought Police can see and hear what people are doing at all times through telescreens and microphones, making it nearly impossible to hide from them. The FBI however, must thoroughly investigate evidence and clues in order to catch their suspect. The most apparent similarity between the two agencies is that the FBI and the Thought Police are both working to prevent attacks, rallies, or revolts against their federal governments.

The FBI has come a long way from beginning with only 34 special agents working for the Department of Justice to becoming one of the worlds most well known federal agencies. In conclusion, the FBI claims to protect the nation from threats and bring justice to lawbreakers. The FBI has a very long history as a reliable agency and continues to support our country in justice.

"FBI History." Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI. 22 Mar 2009 http://www.fbi.gov/fbihistory.htm.

"History of the FBI." Policy Almanac. 2003. Policy Almanac. 22 Mar 2009 http://www.policyalmanac.org/crime/archive/fbi.shtml.

Pike, John. "Federal Bureau of Investigation." Federation of American Scientists. 2003. 22 Mar 2009 http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fbi/fbi_hist.htm.