The Sedition Act of 1798

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the Sedition Act of 1798 remains an important part of the United States Government and the political discussion surrounding it, even after the act was dissolved over two hundred years ago. It looks at how it was initially intended to prevent alleged French spies in the United States from rising against the government in the form of a physical attack or seditious speech, which could potentially weaken the government and how it was repressive towards innocent American citizens. The paper also examines how the act clearly violated the Bill of Rights and led to paranoia and outrage among American citizens as well as unnecessary prosecution of journalists.

From the Paper:

"The Sedition Act made it illegal to "write, print, utter, or publish, or [...] cause or procure to be written, printed, uttered or published, or [...] knowingly and willingly assist or aid in writing, printing, uttering or publishing any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States, or either house of the
Congress of the United States, or the President of the United States, with intent to defame the said government, or either house of the said Congress, or the said President" (Act). Basically, it became illegal to write or publish libel (verbal or written defamation) against the government or the president. The Sedition Act did not, however, pertain to the Vice President (Act)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• An Act for the Punishment of Certain Crimes against the United States (Sedition Act). 14 Jul 1798. ch. 74, 1 Stat. 596.
• "A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 - 1875." American Memory. 31 May 2006. Library of Congress. 26 Oct. 2006 <http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=001/llsl001.db&recNum=719>.
• "The Constitution of the United States," Amendment I.---, Amendment X
• Espionage Act of 1917. Ch. 30, 40. 15 June 1917. Stat. 217.
• Faragher, John M., et al. Out of Many: A History of the American People. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003. 223-225.

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