| Formation | 1917 |
|---|---|
| Founder | A. M. Briggs |
| Dissolved | 1919 |
| Location |
|
Membership | 250,000 (claimed) |
The American Protective League (1917–1919) was an organization of private citizens sponsored by the United States Department of Justice that worked with federal law enforcement agencies during the World War I era. Its mission was to identify suspected German sympathizers and to counteract the activities of radicals, anarchists, anti-war activists, and left-wing labor and political organizations. At its zenith, the APL claimed 250,000 members in 600 cities.