The Sedition Act of 1918 was an expansion of the Espionage Act of 1917, responding to the widespread anti-war sentiment during World War I. The U.S. government, under the guidance of President Woodrow Wilson, sought to unify the nation and ensure support for the war effort. Enacted on May 16, 1918, the Sedition Act made it a federal offense to utter, print, or publish any disloyal or abusive language about the U.S. government, the military, or the war. This legislation was particularly targeted at socialist groups and pacifists who opposed U.S. involvement in the conflict.Thousands were prosecuted under the Act, including notable figures such as socialist leader Eugene V. Debs, who was sentenced to ten years in prison for delivering an anti-war speech. The Act led to the suppression of dissent, with numerous newspapers being shut down or censored. Critics argued that it violated the First Amendment rights of free speech and free press. The Sedition Act faced substantial backlash from civil rights organizations and civil libertarians, resulting in ongoing debates about the limits of governmental power during times of national crisis.The Act remained in effect until its repeal in 1920. By that time, the backlash against the harsh enforcement and a shift in public sentiment prompted lawmakers to reconsider the implications of such restrictive legislation. This episode in U.S. history serves as a significant example of the tension between civil liberties and national security in a time of war, raising questions that continue to resonate in contemporary discussions about free speech and governmental authority.