Recent events in the United States have been labeled with words such as riot and sedition. Here’s some etymology (i.e., word histories) relating to some of these terms.
Riot
The word riot entered into English about 1200 with the meaning of “debauchery, extravagance, wanton living.” Its origins are from the Old French riote meaning “dispute, quarrel, (tedious) talk, chattering, argument, domestic strife.”
By the late fourteenth century, riot had acquired the meaning of “public disturbance.”
In 1714, the Parliament of Great Britain passed the Riot Act. Under this Act, local authorities could declare any group of 12 or more people to be unlawfully assembled and require them to disperse. Reading the riot act to a group of people meant that they had one hour to peacefully leave or face penalties, including death. Here is the wording of the Riot Act which had to be read:
“Our sovereign lord the King chargeth and commandeth all persons, being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, upon the pains contained in the act made in the first year of King George, for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God save the King.”
In the United States, the Massachusetts state legislature passed a riot act in 1786 in response to Shays’ Rebellion. In 1792, the United States Congress passed a Militia Act which incorporated a riot act to allow the President the power to call on the militia to suppress insurrections.
Sedition
The word sedition first emerged in English in the mid-fourteenth century with the meaning of “rebellion, uprising, revolt, concerted attempt to overthrow civil authority; violent strife between factions, civil or religious disorder, riot; rebelliousness against authority.” The word comes from the Old French sedicion which is directly from the Latin seditionem meaning “civil disorder, dissension, strife; rebellion, mutiny.”
By 1838, sedition had acquired the meaning of “conduct or language inciting to rebellion against a lawful government.” Sedition is not as serious offense as treason.
As the United States entered World War I, Congress passed the Espionage Act of 1917. In his book A People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn writes:
“The Espionage Act was used to imprison Americans who spoke or wrote against the war.”
In 1918, Congress expanded the Espionage Age with the Sedition Act. This Act forbade “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language” about the United States, its government, its flag, or its armed forces. While the Sedition Act was upheld by the Supreme Court, it was repealed in 1920.
Treason
The word treason come into English about 1200 with the meaning “betraying; betrayal of trust; breach of faith.” Treason is from the Anglo-French treson which is from the Old French traison which is from the Latin traditionem meaning “delivery, surrender, a handing down, a giving up.”
High treason, meaning grave or serious treason, came into old English law about 1400. High treason was a violation of a person’s allegiance to the king or to the state. On the other hand, petit treason refers to things like the murder of a master by a servant.
In the United States, treason is the only crime specifically identified in the Constitution. Treason applies only to American citizens who have betrayed their allegiance to the United States. Concerned about the fact that repressive governments have used treason as an excuse for silencing political opposition, the Founders narrowly defined treason to protect against false or flimsy prosecutions. Thus, in the United States, treason applies to only two types of conduct: (1) levying war against the United States, and (2) giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the United States.
With regard to the second type of conduct, the Supreme Court has ruled that it requires action beyond just expressing thoughts or intentions. In Cramer v. United States (1945), the Court explained:
“A citizen intellectually or emotionally may favor the enemy and harbor sympathies or convictions disloyal to this country’s policy or interest, but, so long as he commits no act of aid and comfort to the enemy, there is no treason. On the other hand, a citizen may take actions which do aid and comfort the enemy—making a speech critical of the government or opposing its measures, profiteering, striking in defense plants or essential work, and the hundred other things which impair our cohesion and diminish our strength—but if there is no adherence to the enemy in this, if there is no intent to betray, there is no treason.”
Traitor
The word traitor entered into English about 1200 with the meaning “one who betrays a trust or duty.” Traitor is from the Old French traitor which is from the Latin traditor.
Enemy
The concepts of treason and sedition require a group of people who can be labeled as enemies. The word enemy entered into English in the thirteenth century with the meaning of “one hateful toward and intent on harming (someone).” The word enemy is from the Old French ennemi which is from the Latin inimiucus which means “an unfriend”.
In English, the word enemy reflected religious beliefs by the fourteenth century when it acquired the meaning of “adversary of God, unbeliever, heathen, anti-Christian.”
Insurrection
The word insurrection came into English in the early fifteenth century with the meaning “an uprising against civil authority.” Insurrection is from the Old French insurreccion which is from the Late Latin insurrectionem meaning “a rising up.”
In 1807, the United States passed the Insurrection Act which empowered the President to use military means to suppress civil disorder, insurrection, or rebellion. Prior to invoking the Insurrection Act, the President must, however, publish a proclamation ordering the insurgents to disperse. Since that time, Presidents have invoked the Act a number of times in putting down riots: 1992 Los Angeles Riots (George H.W. Bush), 1968 Chicago Riots (Lydon B. Johnson), 1968 Washington, D.C. riots (Lydon B. Johnson), 1968 Baltimore Riot (Lydon B. Johnson), 1967 Detroit Riot (Lydon B. Johnson), and 1943 Detroit Race Riot (Franklin D. Roosevelt).
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