The Espionage and Sedition Acts: World War I and the Image of Civil Liberties

The Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1917-1918, which made it illegal to speak out against U.S. participation in World War I, mark one of the most controversial moments in American history. This text introduces students to the Acts, the cultural and political context in which they were passed, and their historical ramifications in a concise narrative supplemented by primary sources.