America was caught up in Nationalism, Isolationism, anti-immigrant, anti-minority, anti-women's rights, anti-urban, anti-progressive, anti-labor laws, anti-education fervor. Rural white conservative christian Americans were afraid of having their "rightful place" being taken away by boogey men. The President, Woodrow Wilson, shared and stoked their fears. Behind him was a congress willing to support his paranoia with legislation. The Sedition Act of 1918 was passed on this date to counter the progress they so feared, punish so called socialists, and build up nationalism as way to help sell war bonds and support for WWI itself. The Sedition Act made it illegal for Americans to express their opinions about the government, the flag, the war, and the military. If the press was not favorable to the President and his goals, the journalists could be charged with sedition. If civil and labor rights workers expressed their opinions or ideas, they could be and were arrested and charged. Any American not in full fan boy mode for Wilson, the war, Congress, or the flag were in jeopardy if they spoke their mind. Be a flag waving "Patriot" or keep your mouth shut.
Any of this sound eerily familiar in 2018?
In December 1920, the unconstitutional act was repealed by Congress. The national mindset had changed as former rural farm laborers moved to cities after serving in the war, learning there was nothing to fear from "others," safe labor practices, freedom of thought and expression, cities, diverse thoughts and beliefs, and freedom of press.
