May 16, 1918: Congress passes the Sedition Act to protect the U.S. during World War I

Today in Legal History

The Sedition Act legalized the prosecution of people found to be making untrue statements about the U.S., thereby impeding the country's war efforts. It prohibited insulting or abusive language about the U.S., the military or the Constitution. The act also forbade interference with war-material production. Congress repealed the act in 1921.

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