In 1924, Adolf Hitler was sentenced to five years for leading a coup attempt against the government of Bavaria, one of the states of Germany.
He was actually "imprisoned" (in what was nearly a hotel room) for less than 9 months, being released the same year he went in.
A year later he was back in politics. Nine years later he was dictator of all Germany, using the full power of the state to murder his opponents.
These are things that happen when you go easy on seditionists.
