A War with Republicans Rather than a War with France During various time periods following the formation of the United States, the four laws of the Alien and Sedition Acts were signed into law, appealed by the Supreme Court, reinstated and revised. However, during America's heightened tensions with France in the late 1790s, a great debate stirred between Republicans and Federalists on the necessity and intentions of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. Some historians describe the Acts as necessary as they were an effect of the Federal government providing for the people in times of war, as well as reiterating an already declared statement of naturalization in the Constitution. However, the mainstream group of historians questions if there was a legitimate threat and therefore if the Acts were essential. The more substantial argument contends that instead of the government securing the country's borders, the Alien and Sedition Acts were the Federalists attempting to undermine the Democratic-Republican party. In creating these laws, the Federalists werereally intendingto subvert the Democratic-Republican party and their ideals in order to stamp out any political opposition.
The Federalistswho controlled both the Senate and the House of Representatives by the end of the 1700'sargued that the possibility of open war with France and attempts of spying by the French in the United States required Congress to take drastic action to prevent against violations of national security. To this end, Congress passed a series of four measures known collectively as the Alien and Sedition Acts, signed by John Adams during June and July 1798. The first, and least controversial, act was the Alien Enemies Act, in which US authorities could determine whether a citizen of an enemy nation posed a threat to national security during wartime. If found guilty under the law, one would be deported or detained. The second Act, the Alien Friends Act, was effective during peacetime, and allowed the president to deport any citizen of any foreign nation who he decided posed a threat to the nation while inside its borders. The law allowed the president to expel citizens without proof of guilt, claiming that spies would destroy evidence and be able to easily fool many authorities. The statute was only enforceable until June 25, 1800, before the end of Adams' term and the 1800 congressional elections. The Third act, the Naturalization Act revised the measures by which an immigrant could become a citizen of the United States. Rather than having to establish residency in the US for only five years before becoming eligible to become a citizen, the Naturalization Act increased the residency condition to fourteen years. The final, and most controversial, of the Alien and Sedition Acts, was the Sedition Act. It prohibited any individual or group to oppose any measure of the United States. Also, under the Sedition Act, it was illegal to speak, to write, or to print any statement ab...
