The Espionage Act, one of the federal government's most potent laws, is also regarded as one of its most contentious legislation.
The federal government's attempts to control espionage and public criticism of its military operations during World War I led to the creation of the Espionage Act of 1917. The Sedition Act was the name given to amendments made to it in May 1918.
The Civil Liberties Bureau was established in response to the debate over the 1917 Espionage Act (the predecessor of the American Civil Liberties Union). In the years immediately following World War I, the act served as the foundation for several significant Supreme Court cases.
