Let us begin with an overview.
The Alien and Sedition Acts
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.
I have broken apart the Sedition Act, because that is the primary target of my writing.
The Alien Acts
The Naturalization Act was passed by Congress 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
The Sedition Act, the most reviled of the four new acts, was pointed directly at those who spoke out against President Adams or the Federalist-dominated government.
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, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to petition the government for grievances were thrown out the window.
In my opinion, the Federalists, especially Adams, had to have been fully aware that this law was in direct violation of the First Amendment.
Bad Political Judgement
Some of John Adams’ policies led not only to his own downfall but also to the downfall of the Federalist Party.
There seems to be no doubt that the Sedition Act was a primary factor in the downfall.
Repeal of The Alien and Sedition Acts
During Jefferson’s Administration, three of the Alien and Sedition Acts either expired or were repealed. The only exception was the Alien Enemies Act, which remained in effect and was amended in 1918 to include women.
Is History Repeating Itself?
Does any of this, especially the Sedition Act, sound familiar in the year 2022?
You know, things such as:
Outlawing any “false, scandalous, and malicious writing” against Congress or the President.
Making it illegal to conspire “to oppose any measure or measures of the government.”
I hope you get the idea here.
You may also like my book, A Stroll Through American History
