What w as the Smith Act of 1940?

The Smith Act of 1940, officially known as the Alien Registration Act, was a United States federal statute that criminalized advocating the violent overthrow of the government or belonging to any group that advocated such actions. It required all adult aliens residing in the United States to register with the government and be fingerprinted. The Act was primarily used to prosecute members of the Communist Party USA during the Cold War era.