The war fever made the political parties even more divided. People did not trust immigrants. Federalists thought the immigrants would back the Republicans. Congress passed the alien act that raised the time to live in the U.S. to be nationalized from 5 to 14 years (9 years longer) and gave the president the power to deport or imprison any alien he considered dangerous. People thought this was unfair, so Congress passed the sedition act (sedition is activity designed to overthrow government) that harshly limited free speech by making it illegal to write and say anything insulting, false, or with “bad intent” about the government. This law convicted about fourteen people, mostly Republican writers and newspaper editors (and one drunk who was …show more content…
The Federalists mostly were the ones supporting the acts. Congress at that time was Federalist majority because the president, John Adams, was a Federalist. This made it so even if all of the Republicans voted no on the alien acts and sedition acts, which were clearly designed to harm the strength of their party, the acts would still pass. This is indeed what happened. The leaders of the political parties at that time were Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. The acts were passed after the XYZ affair. At this time, many federalists wanted the President, John Adams, to declare war on France. Adams refused, but started the building of an army and enforced a land tax to pay for it. This caused what Republican party leader Thomas Jefferson called a “War Fever”. The war fever made people distrust immigrants, and the alien acts were finally passed in the year 1798. The three alien acts and sedition act were passed in the summer of …show more content…
in the congress building because that is where congress meets to discuss new bills, which eventually become acts or laws. The alien and sedition acts were enforced all over the U.S., but areas with many Republican supporters were affected the most because the acts were directed at immigrants and Republican supporters. One place where someone was tried and arrested for violating the Sedition law was Vermont. The alien act was passed because people did not want the “dangerous” French I their country because of the French revolution (Not unlike Trump’s reaction to Muslims because of ISIS). People started to speak out against the government, specifically the Federalists. In reaction to this, the government (Federalist majority) released the Sedition act, making it illegal to say or publish anything false or with “bad intent” about the
3) What are the differences between the XYZ Affair, Quasi-War, Alien, and the Sedition Act? The XYZ Affair represents three demands that John Adams made, American government needed to apologize publicly towards the France which stands for the X demand. As for Y, the France had requested a loan from the United States and therefore the United States would have to grant the loan, last for the Z, it represents the Americans would need to pay an amount of two hundred thousand dollars to the French. The Quasi-War is a war between the France and United states in the year of 1797 through 1800.
The purpose of these acts were, to punish the Americans after the events from the Boston Tea Party. The reason why they punished the Americans was to teach them a lesson after dumping the tea into the water. The Americans called the laws The Intolerable Acts. The so called Acts were, the Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Quartering Act, and finally the Quebec Act.
The beginning of the United States was given a self-government that took it to a new heists of political and economic systems that would soon be established. The Election of 1800 had revolutionized the American system known as” The Revolution of 1800” which became a turning point resulting in a non-violent, peaceful transition of power in politics and foreign policies. The Election of 1800 consisted of two dominated political power, known as the Federalist and Anti-Federalist who both sought for unity among the people. However, the Federalist soon began losing their stance in the government because they supported a strong national government that distrusted the people in a ruling government.
The Coercive Acts state, in simple terms, stated that the Americans had to house and take care of however many soldiers Britain sent over, the Boston Port was no longer able to be used, British officials could freely escape any trial, and town meetings were almost illegal (unknown u-s-history.com). This really made America
As immigrants we had be American citizen for at least 5 years before being able to oppose a position. Under the Sedition Act, even the rights of American
The Alien and sedition act was four bills that the Federalist passed in 1798 in preparation for an expected war with France. The four bills were: Alien Enemies Act, Alien Friends Act, Naturalization Act, Sedition Act. The Alien Enemies act stated that any citizen from foreign country that posed a threat to national security, if found guilty will be deported or detained. The Alien Friends allowed the president to deport any citizen of any foreign nation who he decided posed a threat to the nation while inside its borders. The law allowed the president to expel citizens without proof of guilt.
In conclusion both the Federalist and the Democratic Republicans had strong options about the Alien and Sedition Acts, most of which were different in relation to what was constitutionally right or wrong. John Adams truly tried to do something proper regarding the acts but it sadly backfired when he discovered the citizens of the United States enjoyed their personal freedom. Although I would have managed the Sedition Acts differently I believe this event contributed greatly into the shaping of our government since it was still pretty clear that our Founding Fathers had no idea how to run a nation. This event only lead to the discovery of political parties and the truth about personal opinions regarding the community members of this society.
The Alien act increased the duration from five to fourteen years in the United States to be a citizen. The act also gave the president power to deport or imprison people. This helped the Federalist because immigrants often tended to side with the Democratic-Republican which was farmers and the poor. There was also the Sedition act which made it a crime to write or say anything insulting or false about the President, Congress, or government. During 1798 and 1799 ten people were convicted under this act they were Republican editors and printers, which helped the Federalists.
The Alien and Sedition Act were enacted to make the United States more secure from foreign spies and domestic traitors (Defining America, n.d.), due to the result of the hostility between the United States and France (Outline, pg. 82). The Alien Act gave the President the authority to detain, imprison or expel aliens (immigrants) in the time of war or peace (Outline, pg. 82), which President Adams felt was needed because “foreign influence within the United States was dangerous and must be exterminated” (Alien and Sedition Act, n.d.). Moreover, the Sedition Act proscribed writing, speaking or publishing anything of false, scandalous and malicious in nature against the President or Congress (Outline, pg. 82). Although, both the Alien and Sedition
Under the guidance of Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, Federalists became a popular political party at the end of George Washington’s term. As a proud Federalists in the United States under Washington, a numerous amount of hypocrisy has consumed the population on, “What were Federalists’ views?” A Federalist strongly believed in the power of the national/central government because it would have yielded stability to the country. Instead of a democracy or popular sovereignty, an “aristocratic leader,” would have best led the nation (History in the Making- Chapter 10).
Congress showed political divide during John Adams term in office because, during his term, Congress made the Alien and Sedition Acts that were meant to help immigrant become citizens with right to vote within 5 to 14 years, and the Sedition Act was made to stop rebellion against the government, but Republicans felt like their party was being attacked due to most immigrants voting for Republicans and the Sedition Act was just punishing Republican newspaper editors who insulted Adams. According to History Alive, "Since most immigrants voted Republican, Jefferson saw this law as an attack on his party...and the Sedition Act was used to punish Republican newspaper editors who delighted in insulting Adams" (Hart-159). This quote reveals that there
Having already started this time period off with the Proclamation Line of 1763 that enraged the colonists, next came the Sugar Act of 1764. The Sugar Act was made to reduce taxes on sugar imposed by the Molasses Act, and was also set up to prevent smuggling. At the same time as the Sugar Act, a Revenue Act as well as a Currency Act was enforced to further regulate the colonial economy. The different regulations and acts were enough to send the colonists into a rage that would further lead to rebellion.
Franklin said there would be more violence (pre-war.) Henry tried to fire up all the representatives. Franklin tried to get all the anti-federalists to agree with the Constitution. In
Fellow countrymen, we have fought long and hard to create a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. Our brave patriots faced both the heat of bullets and the bitter cold of Valley Forge, facing cold and privation for the betterment of the people. Civilians have suffered raids and massacres from marauding redcoats and their Indian allies. After the war, Federalist Adams and his criminals levied taxes and increasingly oppressive on the people - like the British, and will punish any who disagree with their tenets. To protect our liberties, fellow countrymen, support Thomas Jefferson for president.
They felt the Constitution would create a system of federalism, a system in which the national government holds significant power, but the smaller political subdivisions also hold significant power. They felt the country needed a strong central government so that it didn’t fall apart. The Ant-Federalists were on the opposing side, they felt the Constitution granted the government too much power. They also felt there wasn’t enough protection of their right with an absent Bill of Rights. Another concern of the Anti-Federalists mainly came from the lower classes, from their standpoint they thought the wealthy class would be in main control and gain the most benefits from the ratification of this document.