Alien & Sedition Act of 1798

At the end of the 18th century, the newly formed United States was preparing for a possible war with France. Federalists controlled Congress and the presidency, but were under constant political attacks from Republicans. The battles were usually quite heated, with each side viewing the other as treacherous and traitors.

During the 1790’s, a wave of immigrants entered the United States, mostly from France, Ireland and Germany. Federalists saw the immigrants as a possible threat and feared they were more likely to be “disloyal” then a citizen. Federalist Congressman Harrison Otis stated he feared the immigrants would “contaminate the purity … of the American character. (Stone, 23)."

President John Adams and Congress acted to quash any possible threat by enacting the Alien and Sedition Acts, which were based on similar acts passed in England in the 1700’s.  The legislation was made up of four separate parts:

• Alien Friends Act - allowed the president to deport an alien considered “dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States.”
• Sedition Act - Made it a crime to publish “false, scandalous, and malicious writing” against the government or its officials.
• Naturalization Act - Changed the time required to become a citizen from five years to fourteen.
  
• Alien Enemies Act - Allowed the president to capture and deport aliens if their country of origin was at war with the United States.

The effects of the Alien and Sedition Acts was it silenced criticism of the president and his party; thus in effect silencing the Republican party.  The Federalists believed immigrants were more likely to migrate to the Republican Party, and the decent could destroy the young country.  

Republicans argued the legislation was abuse, and would deprive people of “information on public measures (Stone, 38).”  However, Federalists such as Congressman Otis dismissed the critics, stating the legislation was “perfectly harmless (38).”

The Alien and Sedition acts expired on March 3rd, 1801, the last day of Adams presidency. The Acts helped contribute to a Republican victory in the election of 1800. In all, twenty-five Republicans were charged under the act. Ten went to trial, all leading to convictions (Stone, 63). One of the first acts of president Thomas Jefferson was to pardon those that were convicted under the act.