In 1798, the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed as a display of the disagreements between the Federalists and Democratic Republicans. These parties debated many important topics such as foreign policy, federal government power, and states' rights. These discussions were influential in shaping our country's trajectory. The French Revolution, Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions, and XYZ Affair exemplify some contrasting views held by the Federalists and Democratic Republicans.
These events in the late 1790's caused conflicts. The decade was marked by international crisis and discord. The Federalists opposed the Democratic Republicans' support for France. Alexander Hamilton, the Federalist leader, believed that Britain was superior and advocated for modeling the U.S. government after theirs (Document D). Jefferson, on the other hand, argued that Britain lacked sufficient democracy and using their form of government would jeopardize ou
...r republican policies (Document E).
The Alien and Sedition acts were clearly advantageous to the Federalists and were implemented by them in order to secure a victory in the 1800 election. These acts extended the time required for naturalization as a citizen to fourteen years. Since new immigrants were typically impoverished and likely to support the Democratic Republicans, the Federalists gained an advantage by depriving them of their right to vote. The Democratic Republicans vehemently opposed the Acts, asserting that they violated the Constitution. These Acts exemplified the influence of the British on the Federalists, as they bestowed excessive power upon the government (Documents P & Q). The XYZ Affair greatly angered the nation, as it depicted the French as murderous individuals governed by corruption (Document M).
The French ideals of the Democratic Republicans led to a significant loss of support for the party. This
decline in popularity provided an opportunity for the Federalists to successfully implement the Alien and Sedition Acts. The fear of potential disloyalty from French immigrants due to the ongoing French Revolution prompted the passing of an act granting the president the authority to deport individuals deemed as threats. These acts further intensified tensions between the Democratic Republicans and Federalists (Document S). Consequently, the nation became divided, with strong opposition to the Acts emerging from the Southern region.
The Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions, secretly endorsed by Jefferson, were the most notable form of opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts. These resolutions granted a significant amount of power to the states. Overall, the Alien and Sedition Acts heightened tensions between Democratic Republicans and Federalists. Consequently, these tensions and disagreements led to numerous events that triggered a crisis in America during the late 1790's.
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