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The American Press and the Government during War

The American Press and the Government during War . The Alien and Sedition Acts. Prompted by a conflict with France’s navy after the French revolution Made it illegal to criticize the federal government Signed by John Adams Lasted from 1798-1801. the Civil War.

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The American Press and the Government during War

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  1. The American Press and the Government during War

  2. The Alien and Sedition Acts • Prompted by a conflict with France’s navy after the French revolution • Made it illegal to criticize the federal government • Signed by John Adams • Lasted from 1798-1801

  3. the Civil War • Abraham Lincoln closed over 300 opposition newspapers • He also censored dispatches sent by telegraph

  4. World War I • Woodrow Wilson signs both the Espionage and the Sedition Acts • Makes it illegal to print, write or even speak anything disloyal to the government of America

  5. HUAC and WW II • Just prior to World War II in 1938, the Congress forms a special committee to investigate anyone who is disloyal to America in the House of Representatives • This is called the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) • They investigate people suspected of being radicals or socialists – even going after the Boy Scouts and Shirley Temple

  6. Korea Conflict: the 1950s • Joe McCarthy and the Red Scare • Senator uses his power on the HUAC to create paranoia about communists • He even goes after the army angering President Eisenhower a former general • Eventually Edward Murrow defuses is power on television

  7. Vietnam: the 1960s • Television coverage of the war is unprecedented • Many blame the images and commentary for turning public opinion against the war • Especially after Walter Cronkite says on the CBS news that he feels the war is not winnable

  8. First Gulf War: 1991 • Coalition forces invade Kuwait to repel Saddam Hussein’s takeover • The Press are only allowed to visit the command base and go in large groups to battle sites while supervised by the military • The military contact is reserved almost entirely to Press conferences held by top military leaders

  9. In the wake of 9-11 • President Bush signs the Patriot Act and the Homeland Security Act which increase the government’s ability to investigate suspected citizens without warrants and without disclosure • Polls show that Most Americans are willing to give up some freedoms for a greater sense of security

  10. The Digital Age • Wikileaks begins to post secret and sensitive documents online gaining wide exposure in 2010 • Several countries have indicted Julian Assange for stealing government documents • Edward Snowden, former CIA employee, leaks sensitive National security documents to the press which reveal the massive scope of surveillance done under the Homeland Security Act • Currently he has been granted asylum by Russia to avoid prosecution in America

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