The History of Mail in the US

Before the United States was officially a free nation, we had a postal service. The entity we now know as the USPS is a U.S. establishment with a longstanding legacy of struggle, adaptation, innovation, and perseverance that mirrors the history of the United States.

As the United States expanded and postal services scrambled to keep up, some people saw opportunity in the cracks. But as postal services evolved, and theft schemes evolved with them, so did preventative measures to stop it. Today, U.S. citizens have a plethora of ways to proactively and retroactively respond to mail and identity theft.

The beginnings of mail service in the U.S.

The establishment of the postal office is one of the longest standing government services in the United States. Starting in the 1750s, Benjamin Franklin organized a courier system to operate within the existing thirteen colonies. And by 1775, before the Declaration of Independence was even officially signed, Congress created the Post Office of the United States.

Westward expansion broadens horizons

As the United States expanded west, there was much more ground to cover before the Post Office had completely expanded with it. The Pony Express operated for only 18 months, but provided speedy delivery of mail from Missouri to the West Coast. Eventually, the Post Office expanded West, and the transcontinental railroad was built- allowing for an easier way to connect the country as it grew.

New highs, new lows

By the 1800s, the Post Office was struggling. High costs and competing private companies meant they were losing money, and customers. But crucial changes within the next few decades allowed a struggling government agency to rebound exponentially:

Congress slashed postal costs in 1840. Printing practices and materials became cheaper and more accessible for advertisers and merchandisers.
Free home delivery in the countryside (Rural Free Delivery) began in 1896 and was officially established in 1902.
Stagecoaches, the railroad, and steam engines made it easier than ever to carry mail from the East to the West. By the tail end of the 19th century, mail volume was growing at a rate sixteen times faster than the U.S. population. But there was a darker side to this success.

With time, the rapid growth of the post in the U.S. exposed the cracks in the system. By the mid-late 1840s, postal theft and crime was a growing issue. The Ohio State Journal reported this mail robbery on March 9, 1840:

“The mail coach from the west to Columbus was, at 10 o’clock last night, stopped by two men about three miles on this side of Springfield. There was no other person with the coach but the driver. One of the robbers put a pistol to his breast and forced him to halt his team, while the other broke open the coach and abducted the Cincinnati letter bag. This was the only bag taken. As soon as the driver was at liberty, he put his horses to their full speed and gave the alarm at his first stopping place. A diligent search, we understood, was immediately commenced in the neighborhood.”

It turns out an empty mailbag was later found by the side of the road. The robbers were never captured.

The influx of mail related crimes

Around the same time that these strides were being made, crime targeting the mail was beginning to increase. Stagecoaches and trains, were prime targets for criminals. By the late 19th century and early 20th century, organized crime rings became an enormous issue for the post.

In response, Congress first enacted legislation in 1868 that made it illegal to deposit mail promising lands, lotteries, and prizes. Though this initially had little effect, Congress followed it up in 1872 with a new law that gave postal inspectors the ability to federally prosecute fraud-related crimes.

After the Civil War, the post also so a rise in fraud schemes targeting veterans. At this time and through the rest of the history of the post, postal inspectors and the Postal Inspection Service were crucial to investigating and prosecuting these crimes.

Changing tides

Despite the lows, the postal service was able to survive for two reasons: Adaption and innovation. And more change was coming in the 20th century. In 1913, the post expanded once again with Parcel Post, meaning people could now get bulkier items mailed directly to their residences. As the 1900s progressed, there continued to be more growth. When World War I began, the post saw an opportunity for innovation for the changing needs of the country. The post adopted aviation into their services and began using air transport in order to delivery mail. As a result, until the late 20s, the post was one of the biggest supporters of the aviation industry.

The Modern Era

Following World War II, the boom in the United States affected the mail industry as well. However, the infrastructure wasn't ready. Like before, criminals saw opportunity in the cracks starting to form. Between the years of 1920 to 1940, the post saw what the USPIS considers to be the "golden age of fraud." Finally, in 1970, Congress, through the Postal Reorganization Act, established the United States Postal Service (USPS), the version of the postal service Americans know and use today. Through the 70s and onwards, as credit cards become more widespread, cases of credit card theft and identity theft rose with that number. Still, it wouldn't be until 1998 that the federal government would finally establish the Identity Theft and Assumption Deference Act, the first federal legislation against identity theft.

Today, the modern post has had a lot of success- and a lot of challenges, including crime. Mail theft, especially package theft, fraud, and identity theft are all issues still relevant today. Now, there are well-established tools at every American's disposal in the case they become a victim of theft or fraud.

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