In an effort to ensure public support for World War I, civil liberties were restricted when the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 were passed.
The Espionage Act forbade interference with military recruitment, insubordination in the army and the support of U.S. enemies during the war; The Sedition Act prohibited the use of profane language when referring to the United States, its government, its flag and its armed forces.