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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 Congress repealed the Alien and Sedition Acts in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repealed the act in 1921, stating it was unconstitutional.
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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.
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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?
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