Final answer:
The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, under President John Adams, penalized individuals opposing the U.S. government. President Lincoln during the Civil War and the Sedition Act of 1918 during World War I also suppressed disloyal activities. These actions are considered violations of the First Amendment's free speech protections today.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sedition Acts in American History
During the Quasi-War with France, under President John Adams, Congress passed a series of laws known as the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798. Specific to your question, the Sedition Act made it illegal to oppose any measure of the United States or to make statements that could bring the president into disrepute. The Federalists used these acts against their opponents, particularly targeting members of the Democratic-Republican Party. The act set to expire on March 3, 1801, imposed fines and prison terms for violators.
Another significant period was during the Civil War under President Lincoln, where he suspended habeas corpus to suppress any disloyal practices against the Union. Similarly, during World War I, the U.S. government enforced the Espionage Act of 1917 and later the Sedition Act of 1918 to limit anti-war expressions, considering such speech disloyal and seditious.
It's important to note that these acts were later seen as violations of the First Amendment, which guarantees free speech. Over time, the United States has seen a trend toward broadening civil liberties and protecting individual rights against such government overreach.