It is illegal to speak 'English' instead of 'American.'
Funny Rating:★★★★★
Added: 2026/3/18
The Law
In 1923, an Illinois state law was passed declaring that the official language of the state was 'American,' not English. This was driven by anti-British sentiment spearheaded by an Irish-American politician in Chicago who wanted to protest British influence. The law remained on the books until 1969, when it was quietly changed back to English.
Source & Citation
Code/Statute: 5 ILCS 460/20 (Historical)
Illinois Compiled Statutes - State Designations Act
Tags:
#il#language#history#politics