John Adams Internal Challenges The Infamous: Alien and Sedition Acts

Election of 1796

Vocabulary Alien A person from a foreign country who is not yet a citizen of the country in which they now live. Sedition The act of organizing or encouraging efforts to overthrow the government. Factions Refers to a group within an organization, often a political party, that has different goals than those o the party as a whole. republican An adjective, republican indicates support for a government which gets its power from the people.

Internal Challenge: Alien and Sedition Acts Riding the tide of anti-French sentiment, the Federalists overwhelmingly won the 1798 congressional elections. French are stopping American Shipping. In an effort to protect national security, should the country enter into war with France, Congress passed a series of four measures called the Alien and Sedition Acts in The acts gave unprecedented power to the central government. The real intent of these laws was to destroy Jeffersonian Republicanism. Laws designed to suppress Republican opposition.Jeffersonian Republicanism

The Alien Enemies Act,  1. the first and least controversial act, defined the procedure by which, during wartime, U.S. authorities could deport a citizen of an enemy nation whom they deemed a threat to national security.

The Alien Friends Act 1.1. Allowed the president to deport any citizen of any foreign nation whom he deemed a threat to the U.S., even in the absence of proof.

The Naturalization Act. 1. Changed the residency requirement for becoming a citizen of the United States from five to fourteen years 2. This law was aimed at Irish and French immigrants who were often active in Republican politics

The Sedition Act  1. The final and most controversial act, forbade any individual or group to speak, write, or publish anything of a “false, scandalous and malicious” nature that brought the Congress and/or the president “into contempt or disrepute.”  2. A number of Republican newspaper publishers were convicted under the terms of this law. No Federalist papers were charged.

Questions: 2 Paragraph Response, Each Draw a clear connection between the article you read on Wednesday dealing with Voter Suppression and the Alien and Sedition Acts. Describe how the Alien and Sedition Acts pose a threat to the 1 st Amendment and Democracy.

Response to Acts The Kentucky and Virginia Resolves Written by Jefferson and Madison They saw it as limiting Free Speech which included criticizing the President and government. The Jeffersonians argued quite rightly that the Sedition Act violated the terms of the First Amendment

Resolves Resolves argued Alien and Sedition Acts unconstitutional Said the people of each state had the right to nullify or cancel federal law within the state. Doctrine of Nullification would arise again over issue of tariffs and slavery.

Federalist Party Party was deeply divided during his presidency and would never regain its’ former strength. Alexander Hamilton led a faction which undermined the Adams Presidency Some historians consider his worst mistake to be keeping Washington’s cabinet, which was controlled by Hamilton,

Other Accomplishments Appointed John Marshall as Chief Justice

Continued Kept United States out of a declared war with France. “here lies John Adams who took upon himself the responsibility of the peace with France in the year 1800” Adams wanted these words on his gravestone Created the Department of the Navy and strengthened army Left a solvent treasury