The History of the National Security Classification System

In the modern sense classified documents begins only in 1951. The Espionage Act which is used to prosecute leakers including to share a you know it's been I think they've charged Snowden with it. You know they tried charging Ellsberg with it. It's very rare actually and this is what to share is being charged with the Espionage Act was passed in 1917 by Wilson when he went full war time.