Final answer:
The ACLU was founded in response to restrictive government policies during WWI, such as the Espionage and Sedition Acts, to defend civil liberties that were perceived to be under threat by actions from both Democratic and Republican parties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) played a pivotal role in addressing government actions that were seen as violations of the Constitution. When the United States entered World War I, the government implemented restrictive policies like the Espionage and Sedition Acts, which curtailed circumstances in which individuals could exercise their right to free speech.
This led to the founding of the ACLU in 1920, born out of the necessity to preserve civil liberties in the midst of wartime repression and other instances where the government's actions were perceived as constitutional violations. Over time, the ACLU has taken a nonpartisan stance to defend civil liberties, representing both powerless and powerful litigants and taking part in numerous Supreme Court cases. Though both Democratic and Republican parties have sometimes enacted policies that raised civil liberties concerns, the actions during WWI and various other instances throughout history have been significant flashpoints.
For example, during World War I, the government jailed many radicals and opponents of the war, which violated the principles of free speech and dissent protected by the First Amendment. The ACLU played a pivotal role in challenging these violations and ensuring the protection of civil liberties.
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