Final answer:
The Sedition Act prohibited criticism of the government, including opposition to war efforts and disparaging remarks about governmental policies and symbols.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sedition Act prohibited criticism of the government. Specifically, it targeted "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, and abusive" language about the decision to enter the war, the draft, the American flag, and military uniforms during World War I. Two notable instances of Sedition Acts in U.S. history include the Sedition Act of 1918, which was enacted during World War I, and the earlier Sedition Act of 1798, which was designed to smother political opposition and expired in 1801. The acts made it illegal to write, speak, or publish materials against the government and imposed heavy fines and prison terms for violators. The Sedition Act of 1798 and the Sedition Act of 1918 both prohibited criticism of the government. In 1798, the Federalists passed the Sedition Act to smother political opposition to their party. It made it a crime to publish or speak against the government, Congress, or the President. Likewise, in 1918, the Sedition Act was passed to silence dissent against the U.S. involvement in World War I, making it illegal to criticize the government or the war effort.