The American Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, began as a counterintelligence unit in July 1908. Counterintelligence describes activities undertaken to neutralize or exploit the terrorist activities of another nation. The FBI was officially created by United States Attorney General Charles Bonaparte under the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. Originally, the FBI was called the Office of the Chief Examiner. In 1935 the Office of the Chief Examiner was again renamed the Bureau of Investigation and then the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The FBI branched out from the Department of Justice, created in 1870. The Department of Justice was created primarily to prevent anti-judicial policies and enforce federal law. Most of the investigations involved counterfeiting cases. When the FBI was created, most cases were reduced so that a separate agency, such as the FBI, could focus on counterintelligence issues such as radicalism. The first agents on staff numbered around 34, but this increased to more than 300 during the First World War. In the decades since the creation of the FBI, the public has expressed many concerns about its abusive practices. Criticism of the FBI by the general public has involved extensive journalism. Journalists were suspicious of unrest in society involving government officials and wars abroad. They found that the FBI was abusing its authority by withholding important information from the public. For example, the effects of the Watergate scandal led to the conclusion that the FBI illegally shielded President Nixon from investigation. In summary, the Watergate scandal was a political incident that occurred in the 1970s, during the administration of Richard Nixon. What happened was a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington DC at the Watergate office. What followed were several investigations, and then the journalistic evidence presented revealed that the FBI had hidden that someone in the Nixon administration had come up with a plan for the break-in. Ultimately, and under heavy attack from the Americans, Nixon chose to resign or face prison for his involvement in this scandal. Other public criticisms of the FBI were possible systematic racist practices. During the 1980s and early 1990s there was a huge crack cocaine epidemic in black American neighborhoods. Many lives have been lost due to addiction and violence with the emergence of crack cocaine. Once again, through journalists' investigations, it was discovered that the FBI and CIA hid much of their drug sales industries with Latin countries. The evidence found concluded that the purchased drugs were sold exclusively through marginalized neighborhoods, such as the black community. Due to the FBI's activities being leaked to the public, many distrust the government and its dealings with ordinary citizens. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The FBI was originally created as a branch of government that protected America from invasion, traitors, and social collapse. Over the course of several decades, however, the public discovered that an increasing number of illegal activities revolved around the FBI. Through journalistic research, the public discovered that racism and economics came into play with the FBI's activity. Following these tests, the public is a.