The Sedition Act of 1918

Although the legislation passed in 1918 is commonly referred to as the "Sedition Act", the laws
passed were actually amendments to the Espionage Act passed the year before. The Espionage Act
made interfering in the United States' war effort in any way illegal. The Sedition Act increased the
power of the Espionage Act in limiting the First Amendment of the Constitution. The Sedition Act
was passed during World War I to help gain the support of the populace for the war effort. The Act
allowed authorities to arrest anyone who spoke out publicly against the war. Most arrests were made
for speeches and protests by anti-war extremists and pacifists, as well as socialists, though they were
more collateral. President Wilson was reluctant at first to sign the Sedition Act, but was under pressure from his entire cabinet, as well as the other branches of the federal government. As the war ended and the government relaxed its grip on people's everyday lives, more and more support for the Espionage Act's repeal grew. The Act was finally repealed in 1921 and everyone convicted of violating the Act was released from prison.