Changes

Actually, it was more complex than that.  The Federalist Party, which Adams led, wanted to censor and weaken the opposition party, known as the Democratic-Republican Party.  The Alien & Sedition Acts were designed to weaken the Republican Party, which had [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]] as its leaders.  The Alien Act gave the president the power to expel aliens (immigrants) from the country, and the Sedition Act made it a crime to impede any law or utter criticism of high government officials like Adams.  The Sedition Act was obviously unconstitutional under the First Amendment protection of free speech, at least by today's standards.

Actually, it was more complex than that.  The Federalist Party, which Adams led, wanted to censor and weaken the opposition party, known as the Democratic-Republican Party.  The Alien & Sedition Acts were designed to weaken the Republican Party, which had [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]] as its leaders.  The Alien Act gave the president the power to expel aliens (immigrants) from the country, and the Sedition Act made it a crime to impede any law or utter criticism of high government officials like Adams.  The Sedition Act was obviously unconstitutional under the First Amendment protection of free speech, at least by today's standards.

Jefferson and Madison responded by drafting strong state resolutions (Kentucky and Virginia, respectively) to "nullify" or declare the Acts unconstitutional, viewing the act primarily as an attack on their Democratic-Republican party by Adams' Federalists.  They invoked state sovereignty, claiming that a state does not have to obey an unconstitutional federal law.  This unintentionally provided a basis for states in the South later to try to "nullify" other federal laws, leading to the Civil War.

Jefferson and Madison responded by drafting strong state resolutions (Kentucky and Virginia, respectively) to "nullify" or declare the Alien & Sedition Acts unconstitutional.  Jefferson and Madison viewed the Acts primarily as an attack on their Democratic-Republican party by Adams' Federalists.  Jefferson and Madison invoked state sovereignty, claiming that a state does not have to obey an unconstitutional federal law.  This unintentionally provided a basis for states in the South later to try to "nullify" other federal laws, leading to the Civil War.

'''Debate:  Can a State nullify an act of Congress?  Can a State secede (withdraw) from the United States?'''

'''Debate:  Can a State nullify an act of Congress?  Can a State secede (withdraw) from the United States?'''

The Adams Administration went from bad to worse.  In 1798 through 1800, there was an undeclared naval war with France, which was the result of the United States aligning itself with France's enemy, England, on the high seas.  Specifically, American accepted British naval protection, and that resulted in conflicts with the French.  (England and France were enemies throughout the 1700s and 1800s).

The Adams Administration then went from bad to worse.  In 1798 through 1800, there was an undeclared naval war with France, which was the result of the United States aligning itself with France's enemy, England, on the high seas.  Specifically, American accepted British naval protection, and that resulted in conflicts with the French.  (England and France were enemies throughout the 1700s and 1800s).

One final act by President Adams angered his political opponents further.  There was a five-month delay between the presidential election and the swearing in of a new president (the gap is only about two months now).  After Thomas Jefferson crushed Adams in the election of 1800, Adams appointed a bunch of "midnight judges" just before Adams was replaced by Jefferson.  Jefferson was so angry by this "lame duck" action (something done by a politician after he is defeated just before he is replaced by the winner) that Jefferson refused to pay these judges.

One final act by President Adams angered his political opponents further.  There was a five-month delay between the presidential election and the swearing in of a new president (the gap is only about two months now).  After Thomas Jefferson crushed Adams in the election of 1800, Adams appointed a bunch of "midnight judges" just before Adams was replaced by Jefferson.  Jefferson was so angry by this "lame duck" action (something done by a politician after he is defeated but just before he is replaced in office by the winner) that Jefferson refused to pay these judges.  This led to the famous case of ''Marbury v. Madison'' (1803), where the Supreme Court held in Jefferson's favor by declaring a federal law to be unconstitutional for the first time.

[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category:United States History]]