Register to read the introduction…
It had sparked the first extensive debate in American History on the meaning of the First Amendment and of freedom of speech and press. Thomas Jefferson called the Alien and Sedition Acts “an experiment on the American mind to see how far it will bear all avowed violation of the Constitution.” Thomas Jefferson and James Madison helped draft the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions which both protested the acts through the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. "That the General Assembly of Virginia, doth unequivocally express a firm resolution to maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of this State, against every aggression either foreign or domestic, and that they will support the government of the United States in all measures warranted by the former. That this assembly most solemnly declares a warm attachment to the Union of the States, to maintain which it pledges all its powers; and that for this end, it is their duty to watch over and oppose every infraction of those principles which constitute the only basis of that Union, because a faithful observance of them, can alone secure its existence and the public happiness…" (Encyclopedia of American History Documents 454) The Virginia Resolution used the idea of “interposition” by the states. Resolution stated that when the government acts beyond their limits of the Constitution, the states
…show more content…
The government used the acts to contain possible foreign criminals or men thought to be a part of the terrorist group that committed the crime. The acts were used when the United States held the men from the Boston hotel on suspicion that they were a part of the tragedy. After the two men were arrested and contained by the F.B.I., they were given a fair trial and found guilty by the evidence against them. In the events that followed the terrorist act the government had to take fast action in bringing the culprits to justice; the Alien and Sedition Acts played a part in helping the government of the United States reach some of their objectives. Even till this day people criticize or assume foreigners such as Middle-Eastern people as a threat to society especially in terms of them being in the United States. People cringe when they see Middle-Eastern people. I know I do. You just don’t know if they have a bomb or a weapon on them and it scares you. Ever since 9/11, people worry about getting on planes with Middle-Easterners or even being near them makes you cringe and become scared because you don’t want that incident to happen to you or to the society. It’s scary to think about, but to the extremes that the Alien and Sedition Acts were enforced is beyond severe. But, if you feel as though there is an eminent threat to your country or to people it is your job or priority to take
The government used the acts to contain possible foreign criminals or men thought to be a part of the terrorist group that committed the crime. The acts were used when the United States held the men from the Boston hotel on suspicion that they were a part of the tragedy. After the two men were arrested and contained by the F.B.I., they were given a fair trial and found guilty by the evidence against them. In the events that followed the terrorist act the government had to take fast action in bringing the culprits to justice; the Alien and Sedition Acts played a part in helping the government of the United States reach some of their objectives. Even till this day people criticize or assume foreigners such as Middle-Eastern people as a threat to society especially in terms of them being in the United States. People cringe when they see Middle-Eastern people. I know I do. You just don’t know if they have a bomb or a weapon on them and it scares you. Ever since 9/11, people worry about getting on planes with Middle-Easterners or even being near them makes you cringe and become scared because you don’t want that incident to happen to you or to the society. It’s scary to think about, but to the extremes that the Alien and Sedition Acts were enforced is beyond severe. But, if you feel as though there is an eminent threat to your country or to people it is your job or priority to take