Final answer:
The Sedition Act of 1918 limited civil liberties by making it illegal to publicly criticize or oppose the U.S. government's war efforts. It was passed to control public opinion and prevent dissent that might damage the country's war efforts. It has been heavily criticized and partially repealed in the years since, due to its conflict with First Amendment rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sedition Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1918 during World War I. It limited civil liberties by making it illegal to publicly express opposition to the war or to criticize the U.S. government, its flag, its military, or its Constitution. The goal of the Act was to prevent protests, strikes, and other actions that could potentially interfere with the war effort.
Regarding why the Sedition Act was passed, it was largely due to the fear that dissent at home could undermine the U.S. war effort abroad. The government felt the need to control public opinion and prevent any dissent that might erode support for the war.
In the years after the war, many questioned the constitutionality of the Sedition Act, seeing it as a violation of the First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and press. Eventually, parts of the Act were repealed, and the scope of what constitutes sedition under U.S. law has since been more narrowly defined.
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