Espionage Act

The audience for legislation of this type is clear. The Espionage and Sedition Acts provided the judicial system with legal underpinnings to suppress any speech or activities perceived as undermining the war effort. Thus, for example, the courts could rely on the acts to convict those who openly opposed military conscription (that is, the draft). The acts also served to assure Americans that their government was doing everything it could to protect the public from sabotage, spying, and other activities that would harm the nation during a time when the nation was at war.