Reading: The Sedition Act

The Sedition Act Passed By Congress May 16th, 1918 (Modified)

Whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully utter, print, write or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the…government of the United States or the Constitution of the United States, or the military or naval forces of the United States, or the flag of the United States, or the uniform of the Army or Navy of the United States . . . or shall willfully utter, print, write, or publish any language intended to incite, provoke, or encourage resistance to the United States . . . shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or the imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both.

Vocabulary Utter: say Profane: disrespectful Scurrilous: insulting Incite: stir up or cause

Context President Woodrow Wilson wanted to pass the Sedition Act because he believed that if people expressed dissent (disagreed) with the war, it would hurt out ability to win the war. It was Using this law that Eugene Debs was put in jail for his anti-war speech.