...The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1978 Q.1 The alien and sedition acts of 1978 outlawed any person from writing or assisting other persons in writing false or malicious information about the government of the United States. There were three justifications for this law. First, it was passed because writing, assisting persons to write and publish malicious information could defame the government and thereby harm its reputation. Most specifically, such writings and publications could destroy the reputation of the president of the United States and the Congress. Secondly, such writings and publications could stir hatred among the citizens of the United States thereby causing a revolt. Thirdly, such writings and publications could trigger hostility of foreign nations against the US, especially the leader of the government, and the people of the United States. Q.2 The Virginia Resolution opposed the enactment of the alien and sedition acts. The alien act received opposition because it was enacted unlawfully. In other words, the federal government had contravened its powers. The federal government enacted laws that were beyond its mandate. Moreover, passing the alien act joined the three arms of the government namely the legislature, the executive and the judiciary thereby sabotaging the ideologies of a free government. Enacting the alien act also undermined the freedom of organizations and further violated the constitution. The Virginia Resolution also chastised the sedition act...
Words: 316 - Pages: 2
...We, the Federalists, under the leadership of George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, believe in a strong central government to run this nation. We believe in a nationalistic view of our nation and in the cooperation and support of the citizens living in on this land. The laws, rules, and acts that are enacted under this government are made to benefit the nation, not to oppress the people. We hope to establish a nation that is well off, one that is stable in all aspects. As Federalists, we understand the importance of certain acts that are being passed, such as the Alien and Sedition Acts. We understand the need for Hamilton’s Financial Plan, a plan that will overall help this nation prosper, and we understand the need for...
Words: 1546 - Pages: 7
...The First Party System: Why Thomas Jefferson was Responsible American History to 1877 Thomas Jefferson is responsible for dividing the Federalist party of the late 1700s and creating what is known today as the first party system. Thomas Jefferson, who supported a small national government and individual rights, changed American politics by advocating rights of small planters and western farmers to divide the nation once united behind Federalist ideals. By dividing the once united Federalist party into two separate groups, he was able to gain the support needed to take the office of the President away from the Federalist party. This feat was more than a challenge for Jefferson and would shape the structure of American political parties forever. (1) In 1788, George Washington was the first President of the United States and he chose two men with contrasting views on what the fate of the United States should be as part of his advisory board. Thomas Jefferson was chosen by Washington as the head of Department of State. Jefferson was a Virginian and diplomat, known for his views on small national government and representing the small planters and western farmers of America. George Washington then chose Alexander Hamilton as his secretary of the Treasury. Born and raised in the Caribbean, he worked for Washington as his aid during the revolutionary war and was a lawyer. Hamilton was known for his views on a strong national government. He favored merchants and financiers...
Words: 1916 - Pages: 8
...Did the Alien-Sedition Acts violate any of the first 10 amendments? The Alien Sedition Acts were a set of four acts that were passed in 1798 by the Federalists in the United States Congress. It was declared during the undeclared naval war with Britain and France with the impressment of US seamen. Passed during the presidency of John Adams, Democrat-Republican opposition reached new heights because they were in favor with an alliance with France. The first act was the Naturalization act, which was “an act supplementary to, and to amend the act to establish a uniform rule of naturalization; and to repeal the act heretofore passed on that subject”, and was to extend the amount of years needed for naturalization from 5 years to 14 years. This wasn’t violating any of the amendments, however, because it only extended the amount of time needed in a law that was already in place. The next act was the Alien Act, which was formally called “an act concerning Aliens.” This act authorized the president to deport any aliens that would be considered dangerous to the country. This isn’t unconstitutional because they’re illegal or legal aliens that aren’t provided for under the constitution. The third act was the Alien Enemies Act, formally called “An Act Respecting Alien Enemies.” This act allowed the president to deport any and or all people from a country at which the United States was at war with. This also is constitutional because the government has to provide for its citizens first...
Words: 317 - Pages: 2
...federal Sedition Act and Alien Act created, two resolutions were created in 1798-1799 for the purpose of awareness and nullifying such above laws and future laws that were deemed unconstitutional, because they were created by the federal government without consent of the states; therefore these laws would be void and not in effect (p. 158). These two resolutions, The Virginia Resolution and the Kentucky Resolution, were created by two of the four Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. These two key documents helped reform the United States Government by enforcing states rights. In the Virginia Resolution, Jefferson and Madison use the term “compact” to describe the relationship and agreement between the States and the Federal government as set forth in the Constitution. Furthermore, in this agreement between the two parties (states and the federal government) the states have the power and right to nullify laws like the Sedition Act and the Alien Act which are a clear example of the Federal government exercising excessive power that has not been authorized by the compact that the parties shared. Moreover, in this compact the states had power over laws that were not delegated to the federal government, this included laws that reflected individual rights. Both resolutions share the same theme and concern in regards to preventing the Federal government from placing laws in which the states do not agree upon and therefore “nullify” such laws like the Alien Act and...
Words: 729 - Pages: 3
...History 11 exam 2 study guide 1) Explain the structure of the US Gov. under the new constitution and describe the compromises that led to its ratification? What problems do you think remained for the united states under this constitution? The structure of the US Gov under the new constitution sets out the powers of the United States does and what the State powers are as well. In addition Madison is setting up a competion between the US Gov and the States. The US gov can coin money, make taxes, make treaties. State Powers can create taxes, make treaties, but can’t coin money. Many of the powers of the States are often duplicated from the Us Gov. powers. Also there is the 3 branch concept which consist of Executive branch (President, Enforce laws),Legislative Branch (Congress, Make Laws), and Judicial Branch( Interept Laws). These branches will also compete with each other. Example of congress fighting with the president on raising the national debt ceiling. In addition the Judicial branch will sometimes get involved because they have the power to declare a law constitutional or unconstitutional which is the final say. In addion the Judicial Branch can also interpret laws made by the legislative Branch.The compromise that led to the ratification are Virginia Plan:being a large state, because virgina had a larger population.the viginians did not think it was fair for a state to have 3times less population to have a equal vote as a larger state such as virginia.They wanted more...
Words: 2690 - Pages: 11
...The USA Patriot Act, the Alien and Sedition Acts, and the Bill of Rights were all established by the government to protect the citizens of the United States of America. These forms of legislation were predominantly written with intentions of enhanced security but could also be construed as allotting more power to the government to generate decisions without the consent of the citizens. The USA Patriot Act is the most recent of the three forms of legislation, but its objective is probably more understood by citizens during a time of terrorism and constant states of “High Alert” issued by the government. The Act affects everyone in the country, and since it gives the government the ability to search any personal records and conduct surveillance on any citizen with little judicial oversight, people of the United States are annoyed, angered, and apprehensive too. Following the events occurring on September 11, 2001 and the ongoing wars in the Middle East, the government now maintains the right to jail non-citizens solely on suspicion and the FBI can investigate any American citizen for criminal matters if the Bureau declares the investigation involves matters of intelligence, all because the government endorsed and enacted the USA Patriot Act. The Alien and Sedition Acts are comprised of four smaller acts: the Alien Enemies Act, the Alien Act, the Naturalization Act, and the Sedition Act. During the time these Acts were passed, the government was comprised of Federalists who...
Words: 1045 - Pages: 5
...John adams approved the alien and sedition acts what these did was made it harder to become a U.S citizen and took part of freedom of press away. Did the alien and sedition act violate the U.S constitution. This question was asked because people felt it was unconstitutional and felt it wasn't fair for the government to kick someone out without a trial. People might disagree because they believe the government has rights to change the constitution and believe immigrants have temporary rights that can be taken away. This is constitutional because they are kicking immigrants out without a trial and they have natural rights too. They government cannot change the first amendment because it say freedom of speech and freedom cannot be downgraded....
Words: 320 - Pages: 2
...Under the Adams administration, he passed the Sedition and Alien Act bill in, which Jefferson thought to be a contradiction to the first amendment (Bernstein) . In order to punish the public who do not agree with his federal policies and talked against his administration (Thomas Jefferson). Those that were prosecuted were ruled under a federal court. As soon as Jefferson was able to, he heavily persuaded and convinced Congress to dispose of the Sedition and Alien Act (Onuf) . However, before it was finalized Jefferson had already taken action to liberate prosecutors under the Sedition and Alien Act (Appleby). Jefferson thought that the Sedition and Alien Act contradict the Constitution due to the fact public and free speech is the 1st amendment...
Words: 259 - Pages: 2
...Primary Document Analysis Form Your name: Yevgeniya Erdyniyeva Class section: Mn-Wed 5 Date: 10/25/15 Document title: Alien and Sedition Acts Date of document: November 13th, 1797 Author(s): Fifth Congress of the US , John Adams 1.Two or three biographical sentences describing author(s): The Alien and Sedition Acts were four bills that were passed by the Federalists in the 5th United States Congress and signed into law by President John Adams in 1798(John Adams became the second president of the United States of America in 1797) 2.What was the historical context in which the author(s)wrote the document? The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed during a time of great tension due to a possible war with France. Fighting between...
Words: 649 - Pages: 3
...impactful presidential downfall was signing The Alien and Sedition Acts which initially gave them the power to deport anyone whom they felt needed to leave. This was because federalist saw foreigners as a threat. The Alien Acts states that immigrants could be imprisoned and deported to an enemy power during times of war. The Sedition acts initially prohibits public opposition to the government, directly violating the first amendment. Which states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. I think this is absolutely crazy of him to sign this document. People are trying to come to the United States because it is the land of the free. People to the United States from all types of different areas of the countries to feel free and live in America because they have more opportunities. The intention of that was to kick any...
Words: 1029 - Pages: 5
...These laws were supposedly designed to improve the security of the United States, but the Republicans insisted that they were strategically made to render Federalist opponents impotent. First of all, the Naturalization Act dramatically increased the American citizenship residency requirement for from 5 to 14 years. Secondly, the Alien Friends Act permitted the President of the United States to imprison or deport aliens that were considered dangerous to this country. The Alien Enemies Act gave the President the authority to, during times of war, imprison or deport any male citizen of a hostile nation above the age of 14. That is, of course, unless “(it us someone) who shall not be chargeable with actual hostility, or other crime against the public safety, shall be allowed,” (The Alien and Sedition Act, Page 145) (It must be noted that at the time Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans, who were the political opponents of the Federalists, were supported by the majority of the effected immigrants). Finally, the Sedition Act restricted any and all forms of speech, which were deemed critical of the federal government. Republicans vehemently opposed these acts believing them to all be blatant Federalist violations of the United States...
Words: 898 - Pages: 4
...The Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party were the first two major political parties in the United States. The Federalist Party was created in opposition to the Democratic-Republican Party. Both parties started within the congressional and executive branches of government during George Washington’s presidency. The belief of a strong central government was the core political philosophy of the Federalist Party. The Federalists wanted a fiscally sound and nationalistic government. Most Federalists were bankers and businessmen who promoted government engagement in a national economy and supported the creation of a strong central bank. The Federalist Party endorsed the Alien and Sedition Acts which increased the requirements for citizenship,...
Words: 621 - Pages: 3
...treaty. When the peace delegation arrived to begin consulting with the French, French minister Talleyrand sent three representatives to demand a bribe from the United States in exchange for negotiating, an event that came to be known as the XYZ Affair. Insulted by the bribe, the American negotiators returned to the United States. Upon receiving news of the French’s behavior, John Adams decided to keep it a secret from the public in fear it would cause mass hysteria and uproar. After much suspicion, however, word of France’s actions was revealed and spurred much protest from citizens who declared they wanted war. Adams knew that an arduous and costly war was not best for the country, so he attempted to mitigate the uproar by passing the Alien and Sedition...
Words: 529 - Pages: 3
...For foreign affairs, the European nations between 1790 and 1816 had many commotions that required United States assistance; thus many decisions were made in the American Cabinet. Domestic affairs at that time was taxes and acts passed due to the problems the American government is facing. Between 1790-1816, foreign affairs was more influential towards shaping America’s politics than domestic affairs. . First off, the foreign affairs that affected American politics during 1790 through 1816 was majorly from the European nations. The first major foreign event in the 1790s was the Proclamation of Neutrality. France was at war with Britain, so France requested United States to help them. As a result, a cabinet meeting was set up where Thomas Jefferson went against Alexander...
Words: 583 - Pages: 3
