The Sedition and Alien Act - Essay Example

no. The Sedition and Alien Act The Alien and Sedition acts are four bills that federalists passed in the5th United States Congressed and President Adams passed into law in the year 1798. These actions were fueled by the French Revolution and it defined period in which France was involved in the naval war that was later referred to the Quasi War. Under the act was the Naturalization act that increased American citizenship residency requirements from 5 to 14 years (Kellogg 76). It also allowed the president to deport or imprison any alien who was considered dangerous to the safety and peace of the United States.

The act also brought an end to protesting to the government, restricted immigration into the United States, denied citizens freedom of speech, and also gave room for the arrest of the lawmakers. These laws were under national security guise; however, the bottom lines was that they were signed to decrease the number of people especially voters who were against the Federalist Party. It should be noted that at this point, many immigrants especially the French and Irish most of which supported the Democratic republicans and Thomas Jefferson and Madison who were the main Federalists opponents.

Notably, Thomas Jefferson opposed the terms of these acts and this led to his 1800 election and brought to the end the effects of Alien and Sedition acts by 1801 (Kellogg 81). Many nations and political systems are still applying this situation or often introduce laws that favor their rules opposed to the advances of their opponents. In most cases, these have led to war and rebellion across many nations across the world. Thus, it is vital for political leaders to act or introduce acts and laws that benefit the country and the people as opposed to their personal gains especially retaining them into power.

Work CitedKellogg, William O. American History: The Easy Way. Hauppauge (N.Y.: Barrons, 2003. Print.