The Alien and Sedition Acts are discussed further in my book,is taken from my book, A Stroll Through American History.
In 1798, there was widespread fear that war with France was, indeed, imminent.
With fears of enemy spies infiltrating American society, the Federalist majority in Congress passed new laws in June and July, 1798, collectively known as the Alien and Sedition Acts.
– Congress passed The Naturalization Act to increase residency requirements for U.S. citizenship to 14 years from five. Federalist were aware that many recent immigrants and new citizens favored the Republicans.
– The Alien Enemies Act permitted the government to arrest and deport all male citizens of an enemy nation in the event of war.
– The Alien Friends Act allowed the President to deport any non-citizen suspected of plotting against the government, even in peacetime.
– The Sedition Act pointed directly at those who spoke out against President Adams or the Federalist-dominated government. This was the most reviled of the four new acts,
The Sedition Act outlawed any “false, scandalous, and malicious writing” against Congress or the President. The law also made it illegal to conspire “to oppose any measure or measures of the government.”
In other words, the Federalists threw freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to petition the government for grievances, out the window.
In my opinion, this law was in direct violation of the First Amendment.
Bad Political Judgement.
Some of John Adams’ policies led to his own downfall and the downfall of the Federalist Party.
There seems to be no doubt that the Sedition Act was a primary factor in the downfall.
