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President Adams signs the Sedition Act into law

On July 14, 1798, Adams signed the Sedition Act, criminalizing the publication of 'false, scandalous, and malicious' writings against the federal government or its officials.

President Adams signs the Sedition Act into law

The act provoked major civil liberties and partisan controversy, leading to prosecutions of Republican journalists and contributing to the political backlash that helped defeat the Federalists in 1800.

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