Why did the federal government pass the espionage act during world war 1

The U. S. Congress amended the Espionage law with the Sedition Act of 1918. Its purpose was to make it illegal to write or speak anything critical of American involvement in the war.

The reasons Congress passed the Espionage and Sedition Acts during WW1 were: ... The U. S. Congress amended the Espionage law with the Sedition Act of 1918. Its purpose was to make it illegal to write or speak anything critical of American involvement in the war.