June 29, 1940 – Alien Registration Act Seeks to Undermine Left-Wing Political Groups by Registering 4,741,971 Immigrants

“The Alien Registration Act (also known as the Smith Act) was passed by Congress on 29th June,
1940, made it illegal for anyone in the United States to advocate, abet,
or teach the desirability of overthrowing the government. The law also
required all alien residents in the United States over 14 years of age
to file a comprehensive statement of their personal and occupational
status and a record of their political beliefs. Within four months a
total of 4,741,971 aliens had been registered. The main objective of the
act was to undermine the American Communist Party and other left-wing
political groups in the United States. One of the first men to be
arrested and imprisoned under the act was James Cannon, the national
secretary of the Socialist Workers Party.”