The government response to the debates over U.S. participation in World War I primarily involved the passage of the Espionage and Sedition Acts. These laws were enacted in 1917 and 1918, respectively, and were aimed at suppressing dissent against the war effort and curtailing anti-war activism. They made it illegal to interfere with military operations, support the enemy, or promote insubordination in the military. The Acts also targeted freedom of speech, leading to the arrest and prosecution of numerous individuals who expressed opposition to the war.
The other two options—Supreme Court decisions finding the government in violation of the Bill of Rights and the founding of the American Civil Liberties Union—reflect responses to the implications of these acts, particularly in terms of civil liberties and rights. However, they were not direct government actions in response to the debates over participation in WWI.
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