Which act set fines and jail terms for hindering government operations or expressing false statements?

The Sedition Act, passed in 1798, aimed to protect the government from criticism and dissent during a time of perceived national crisis. This act made it a crime to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government, which included severe penalties such as fines and imprisonment for those found guilty of such offenses. The context for this legislation was the intense political rivalry between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, as well as concerns over national security in the face of tensions arising from conflicts such as the Quasi-War with France.

In contrast, the Alien Act also passed in conjunction with the Sedition Act, primarily dealt with the rights and deportation of non-citizens and did not focus on punishing citizens for their speech or press. The Emancipation Act pertains to the abolition of slavery and thus is unrelated to government operations or freedom of speech concerns. The Nullification Act relates to states' rights and is associated with conflicts over tariffs and state sovereignty rather than direct penalties for speaking against the government.