In 1798 Congress passed four laws attempting to strengthen the federal government called the Alien and Sedition Acts. The acts made it possible for the federalists to revolt against Democratic-Republicans and to gain more power for themselves. The acts didn’t allow anyone to criticize the government at all; and it extended the time allowed to become an American citizen, since the federalists thought most of the new population would become democratic-republicans. The two political parties focused on domestic and foreign policy differences. The two parties had their biggest differences with the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts because both thought the other party would take all the control by limiting the power of the other party.
Thomas …show more content…
Adams stated, "The speech of the President [ of the French Directory]...evinces a disposition to separate the people of the United States from the government...whom they themselves have chosen to manage their common concerns” (Document J). People like Adams who didn’t trust immigrants prompted the passing of the Alien act that required a fourteen year residency period for aliens prior to naturalization as a citizen, allowed the restraint and removal in time of war of resident adult aliens of the hostile nations, and gave the President power to deport the aliens he thought could be a threat to America. The Democratic-Republicans thought passing the acts was an attempt to strengthen the federal government overthrow the power of the states. A republican congressmen from New York, Edward Livingston, said in a speech to the House of Representatives in June of 1798: "...by this act [i.e., the Alien Act]... the president alone is empowered to make the law, to fix in his mind what acts, words, what thoughts or looks, shall constitute the crime contemplated by the bill, that is the crime of being ‘suspected to be dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States….’ ” (Document Q). James Madison in a letter to Jefferson in May of 1798 said "The abolition of Royalty was it seems not one of his [Adams'] Revolutionary …show more content…
A Federalist congressman from Connecticut, John Allen, supported the act in a speech to the House of Representatives saying "the freedom of the press and opinions was never understood to give the right of publishing falsehoods and slanders, nor of exciting sedition, insurrection, and slaughter, with impunity. A man was always answerable for the malicious publication of falsehood; and what more does this bill require?” (Document R). Even though the Sedition Act violated the first amendment, the ferderal government approved of it. The republicans said that the federal government had crossed their boundaries and took power that was supposed to be given to the states and that meant the states had the right to repeal the
Thomas …show more content…
Adams stated, "The speech of the President [ of the French Directory]...evinces a disposition to separate the people of the United States from the government...whom they themselves have chosen to manage their common concerns” (Document J). People like Adams who didn’t trust immigrants prompted the passing of the Alien act that required a fourteen year residency period for aliens prior to naturalization as a citizen, allowed the restraint and removal in time of war of resident adult aliens of the hostile nations, and gave the President power to deport the aliens he thought could be a threat to America. The Democratic-Republicans thought passing the acts was an attempt to strengthen the federal government overthrow the power of the states. A republican congressmen from New York, Edward Livingston, said in a speech to the House of Representatives in June of 1798: "...by this act [i.e., the Alien Act]... the president alone is empowered to make the law, to fix in his mind what acts, words, what thoughts or looks, shall constitute the crime contemplated by the bill, that is the crime of being ‘suspected to be dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States….’ ” (Document Q). James Madison in a letter to Jefferson in May of 1798 said "The abolition of Royalty was it seems not one of his [Adams'] Revolutionary …show more content…
A Federalist congressman from Connecticut, John Allen, supported the act in a speech to the House of Representatives saying "the freedom of the press and opinions was never understood to give the right of publishing falsehoods and slanders, nor of exciting sedition, insurrection, and slaughter, with impunity. A man was always answerable for the malicious publication of falsehood; and what more does this bill require?” (Document R). Even though the Sedition Act violated the first amendment, the ferderal government approved of it. The republicans said that the federal government had crossed their boundaries and took power that was supposed to be given to the states and that meant the states had the right to repeal the