ABSTRACT
The Sedition Act of 1798 was signed into law by the Federalist Party when there was fear of war in France and to prevent their rival political party, the Democratic-Republicans, from speaking out against and criticizing the Federalist party, which could result in legal ramifications, including fines and jail time. The Sedition Act was and remains an example of unconstitutional legislature that undermined the spirit of the Constitution and the First Amendment guaranteeing Americans the freedom of speech, expression and press. The Act was hypocritical and defied the principles that the United States was founded upon. It made it ...
