Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1917 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the Espionage Act?

A US federal law

When was the Espionage Act passed?

June 15th, 1917

Why was the Espionage Act passed?

To limit opposition to the war and fight espionage

What is espionage?

Spying to acquire government information Signup and view all the answers

What did the Espionage Act actually do?

Made it illegal to aid the enemy, give false reports, or interfere with the war effort Signup and view all the answers

What did the Sedition Act do?

It made it illegal to speak against the war publicly Signup and view all the answers

When was the Sedition Act passed?

1918 Signup and view all the answers

What did the Sedition Act allow officials to do?

It allowed officials to prosecute anyone who criticized the government Signup and view all the answers

Who enacted these laws?

Congress Signup and view all the answers

What did these two laws lead to?

Over 1,000 convictions Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Espionage Act

A federal law in the United States enacted to address concerns during World War I.
Passed on June 15, 1917, shortly after the U.S. entered the war.
Aimed to limit opposition to the war and combat espionage activities.

Definition of Espionage

Espionage refers to the act of spying to obtain sensitive government information.

Provisions of the Espionage Act

Made it illegal to assist enemy nations during wartime.
Criminalized the dissemination of false information and any actions that might interfere with the war effort.

Sedition Act

This law was signed into effect in 1918 and expanded on the Espionage Act.
It criminalized public criticism of the war and government.

Enforcement of the Sedition Act

Allowed government officials to prosecute individuals for speaking out against the government or the war effort.

Legislative Authority

Both the Espionage Act and Sedition Act were enacted by Congress.

Impact of the Laws

Resulted in over 1,000 convictions of individuals for various offenses related to these acts.

Description

Test your knowledge on the Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1917 with these flashcards. Learn key facts such as the purpose of the acts, their passage date, and what constitutes espionage. Perfect for students of U.S. history and those interested in wartime legislation.