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The '''Alien and Sedition Acts''' (1798) were four separate acts passed by the [[Federalist]] controlled [[U.S. Congress]] during [[John Adams]] administration as America prepared for a possible war with [[France]]. <ref> http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Alien.html</ref> The four measures limited freedom of the [[press]] and speech and restricted the activities of aliens, particularly [[French]] and [[Irish]] as the acts were in response to the [[XYZ Affair]].<ref>Paul Johnson, A History of the American People, page. 240</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://law.jrank.org/pages/11426/XYZ-Affair.html|title=XYZ Affair|work=Law Library - American Law and Legal Information|accessdate=2007-01-13}}</ref> The acts were an extremely divisive issue between [[Federalist]] and the [[Democrat]]-[[Republican]] party.

The '''Alien and Sedition Acts''' (1798) were four separate acts passed by the [[Federalist]] controlled [[U.S. Congress]] during [[John Adams]] administration as America prepared for a possible war with [[France]]. <ref> http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Alien.html</ref> The four measures limited freedom of the [[press]] and speech and restricted the activities of aliens, particularly [[French]] and [[Irish]] as the acts were in response to the [[XYZ Affair]].<ref name="pj">Paul Johnson, A History of the American People, page. 240</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://law.jrank.org/pages/11426/XYZ-Affair.html|title=XYZ Affair|work=Law Library - American Law and Legal Information|accessdate=2007-01-13}}</ref> The acts were an extremely divisive issue between [[Federalist]] and the [[Democrat]]-[[Republican]] party.

The Sedition of Act of 1798 made illegal to criticize the government of the [[United States]] under penalty of fines and/or imprisonment. In the most early instance of the acts usage, Luther Bladwin, a [[New Jersey]] citizen, was convected for and fined $100 for wishing that a wad from a presidential saluting-cannon hit Adams.

The Sedition of Act of 1798 made illegal to criticize the government of the [[United States]] under penalty of fines and/or imprisonment. In the most early instance of the acts usage, Luther Bladwin, a [[New Jersey]] citizen, was convected for and fined $100 for wishing that a wad from a presidential saluting-cannon hit Adams.

[[Thomas Jefferson]], and his friend [[James Madison]], authored a resolution which declared the Alien and Sedition Acts [[unconstitutional]], because  individual states "have the right and are duty bound to interpose for arresting of the [[evil]]." The [[resolution]] passed through the [[Virginia]] and [[Kentucky]] legislatures and became the first instance of individual states "nullification" of a "unauthorized acts". <ref>Paul Johnson, A History of the American People, page. 240</ref>

[[Thomas Jefferson]], and his friend [[James Madison]], authored a resolution which declared the Alien and Sedition Acts [[unconstitutional]], because  individual states "have the right and are duty bound to interpose for arresting of the [[evil]]." The [[resolution]] passed through the [[Virginia]] and [[Kentucky]] legislatures and became the first instance of individual states "nullification" of a "unauthorized acts". <ref name="pj" />

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[[Category: United States History]]

[[Category: United States History]]