Final answer:
The Sedition Act of 1798 aimed to suppress criticism of the U.S. government and was emblematic of government efforts to limit the freedom of expression, including the Sedition Act of 1918 during World War I that targeted anti-war sentiments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sedition Act of 1798 was passed at a time when the number of newspapers in the United States increased significantly, and was aimed at punishing any 'false, scandalous, and malicious writing' against the U.S. government, Congress, or the President. It was supported by Federalists who were concerned about the influence of Republican newspapers critiquing their governance.
The Act made it a crime to obstruct the enforcement of any U.S. law or intimidate government officials, with punishments of prison terms and fines for violators. Additionally, this law was used to target and suppress political opposition, leading to numerous arrests and convictions, including of Matthew Lyon. A similar type of act, also referred to as the Sedition Act, was passed in 1918 during World War I, criminalizing any speeches and writings deemed disloyal to the U.S. government or war effort, resulting in prosecutions like that of Eugene V. Debs.