This Day in History: May 16

Here’s a brief look back in time for this day, May 16.

In 1918, the U.S. Congress passes the Sedition Act, which essentially criminalized anti-war activism and public dissent against the government. This was one year after the U.S. got involved in World War I, which was once promised to never happen. Those found guilty were either fined a maximum of $10,000, or were sentenced to an upwards of 20 years in prison. Most of the elements enshrined were in direct contrast to the First Amendment, which led to its repeal in 1920 once the war was over.

In 1929, the first Academy Awards were held at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, CA. The first movie to win Best Picture was director William Wellman’s Wings. The awards were later nicknamed the Oscars in 1939 after an alleged remark by one of the events organizers stating that the trophies looked like her Uncle Oscar.