Alien and Sedition << AYL yuhn and sih DIHSH uhn, or AY lee uhn and sih DIHSH uhn, >> Acts, were a series of laws passed by Congress in 1798 to silence opposition to an expected war with France. Neither France nor the United States had declared war, but French and American ships had fought many battles.
The Alien and Sedition Acts consisted of three laws dealing with aliens (foreigners) and one dealing with sedition (inciting rebellion). The Alien Enemies Act authorized the president to imprison or deport citizens of enemy nations. The Alien Friends Act permitted even citizens of friendly nations to be deported if the President considered them dangerous. The Naturalization Act required a foreigner to live in the United States for 14 years before becoming a citizen. The Sedition Act was used to fine or imprison anyone who encouraged resistance to federal laws or who criticized the government.
The chief supporters were members of the Federalist Party, which controlled Congress. The Federalists generally supported Britain in international disputes. Their opponents were members of the Democratic-Republican Party, which usually sided with France. The Democratic-Republican Party gained much support from recent immigrants to the United States, most of whom were from France or Ireland.
By passing the Alien and Sedition Acts, the Federalists hoped to silence their critics. The plan failed, however. Many people objected to the Alien and Sedition Acts as a violation of freedom. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, two Democratic-Republican leaders, challenged the constitutionality of the acts in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. The resolutions became part of the Democratic-Republican platform in the 1800 presidential election. The Democratic-Republicans defeated the Federalists in this election. The Alien Friends Act expired that year, and the Sedition Act expired in 1801. Congress repealed the Naturalization Act and amended the Alien Enemies Act. In 1800, after two years of naval conflict, the Americans and French signed a peace agreement.
