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Alien and Sedition Acts. History. Passed by Federalists in Congress (1798) In response to an anticipated war with France Federalists saw foreigners as a threat to American security. Impact Angered the Democratic-Republicans. Alien Act Law.
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History • Passed by Federalists in Congress (1798) • In response to an anticipated war with France • Federalists saw foreigners as a threat to American security. Impact • Angered the Democratic-Republicans
Alien Act Law • Immigrants must be residents for 14 years instead of 5 years before they became eligible for U.S. citizenship. • Gave the President authority to deport aliens "dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States" during peace or wartime.
Sedition Act • Prohibited (didn’t allow) public opposition to the government. • Fines and jail time could be used against those who "write, print, utter, or publish . . . any false, scandalous and malicious writing" against the government.
Unconstitutional? • Democratic-Republicans and other Americans argued that these laws violated the Constitution. • There was no judicial review by the Supreme Court to declare these laws Unconstitutional.