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The '''Sedition Act''' of 1918 was an amendment to the [[Espionage Act]] of 1917 passed at the urging of [[POTUS|President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]], who was concerned that any widespread dissent in time of war constituted a real threat to an [[American]] victory. This may have been due to "subversive activity" in Russia that resulted in the overthrow of the Russian Czar in 1917, and contributed to the [[Easter Rising]] in Ireland in 1916. "Subversive activity" in Great Britain was less successful.

The '''Sedition Act''' of 1918 was an amendment to the [[Espionage Act]] of 1917 passed at the urging of [[POTUS|President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]], who was concerned that any antiwar speech and organizing to oppose the drafty and the war effort constituted a real threat to an Americ]] victory.  

The Sedition Act forbade Americans to use "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the United States government, flag, or armed forces during war. The act also allowed the [[Postmaster General]] to deny mail delivery to dissenters of government policy during wartime.

The Sedition Act forbade Americans to use "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the United States government, flag, or armed forces during war. The act also allowed the [[Postmaster General]] to deny mail delivery to dissenters of government policy during wartime.

The Sedition Act was an attempt by the United States government to limit freedom of speech during a time of war. This is in conflict with the US [[Constitution]]'s [[First Amendment]], which states, in part: "Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or the press". Note that there is no "war" exception (or any exceptions whatsoever) to this freedom stated in the text of the amendment.

The Espionage Act made it a crime to help wartime enemies of the United States, but the Sedition Act made it a crime to utter, print, write or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the United States' form of government.

The Espionage Act made it a crime to help wartime enemies of the United States, but the Sedition Act made it a crime to utter, print, write or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the United States' form of government.

Socialist [[Eugene V. Debs]] was sentenced to 10 years in prison under this law for trying to impede the draft. Disloyal activists including members of the [[Industrial Workers of the World]] union were also imprisoned during World War I for their anti-war dissent under the provisions of the Sedition Act. Anti-war protestors were arrested by the hundreds as speaking out against the draft and the war was illegal under this law.

Socialist [[Eugene V. Debs]] was sentenced to 10 years in prison under this law. U.S. citizens including members of the [[Industrial Workers of the World]] union were also imprisoned during World War I for their anti-war dissent under the provisions of the Sedition Act. Anti-war protestors were arrested by the hundreds as speaking out against the draft and the war was illegal under this law.

The Sedition Act was upheld as Constitutional by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] in ''[[Schenck v. United States]]''.

The Sedition Act was repealed in 1921. Although the Sedition Act was upheld by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] in ''[[Schenck v. United States]]'', most legal experts view the Sedition Act as being antithetical to the letter and spirit of the United States Constitution, specifically the [[First Amendment]] of the [[Bill of Rights]].

The Sedition Act was repealed in 1921.  

==See Also==

==See Also==

*[[Sedition Act]]

*[[Sedition Act]]

*[[Sedition Act of 1798]]

*[[Sedition Act of 1798]]

[[Category:United States Law]]

[[Category:United States Law]]