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Connections The Sedition Acts v. 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts 1798 1918 Sedition Act 1918 The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 were designed to protect the United States from illegal immigrants from enemy countries who might infiltrate the government. They were politically motivated because it targeted the French, and the Federalist Party did not support France in its war with England. The Democratic-Republican Party, on the other hand, was sympathetic to the French. Federalist John Adams was president and supported the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798. The Alien and Sedition Acts were composed of four parts. The Naturalization Act stated that someone from another country must live in the United States for fourteen years before he or she could apply for citizenship. The previous requirement was five years. The Alien Friends Act gave the president the power to deport any nonresident of the United States considered a threat to the government. The Alien Enemies Act stated that residents of countries with which the United States was in conflict could be seized and deported from the country. Finally, the Sedition Act forbid publishing false, incorrect, and scandalous writing about the United States, the government, or specific officials. Congress repealed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1802 at the urging of President Thomas Jefferson who believed the act was unconstitutional. The 1918 Sedition Act was an amendment to the Espionage Act of 1917. This act prohibited American citizens from using any “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language” against the United States, the government, or the American military. It also stated that the United States Postal Service would not deliver any mail disrespectful of the United States to any American. Many argued that the Sedition Act of 1918 violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which granted freedom of speech to all American citizens. Members of the Industrial Workers of the World who vehemently opposed the American war effort were jailed for their antiwar protests. The Sedition Act allowed them to be jailed although thought they argued their First Amendment rights. When a military draft was instituted, hundreds spoke out against it because they believed it to be unlawful. These people were also arrested. Congress repealed the act in 1921, stating it was unconstitutional. CICERO © 2010 1 Connections Similarities The 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts and the 1918 Sedition Act were very similar; they prohibited false or abusive language about the United States, its government, or its military. The law could be could be interpreted to prevent any criticism of the government, warranted or not. However, parts of each act were different. The 1798 Acts forbid any negative information about the United States government published or spoken in the United States. The 1918 Sedition Act was focused on American citizens who verbally made false statements of injustice about the United States or published them. Both Sedition Acts were argued to be violations of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which granted freedom of speech to every American citizen. By passing a law restricting what a person could write or say, the act negates the amendment that is the cornerstone of American government. President Thomas Jefferson supported repeal of the 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts in 1802, and the United States Congress repealed the 1918 Sedition Act in 1921. CICERO © 2010 2 Connections Name: ______________________________ Date: _______________ The Sedition Acts Discussion Questions: 1. Compare and contrast the Sedition Acts. 2. How did the Sedition Acts conflict with the First Amendment? 3. What was the fate of the 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts and the 1918 Sedition Act? CICERO © 2010