ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS
\ˈe͡ɪli͡ən and sɛdˈɪʃən ˈakts], \ˈeɪliən and sɛdˈɪʃən ˈakts], \ˈeɪ_l_iə_n a_n_d s_ɛ_d_ˈɪ_ʃ_ə_n ˈa_k_t_s]\
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Two acts of Congress, passed by the Federalists in 1798, under the excitement of hostile relations with France and bitter feeling against the influence of the French Revolution. The Alien Act authorized the President to order out of the country all such aliens as he might judge to be dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States or to be plotting against them. The Sedition Act provided heavy fines and imprisonment for any who should conspire to oppose the United States Government or laws, or who should print or publish any false, scandalous or malicious writings against the government, Congress or the President, intended to bring disrepute or hatred upon them or stir up sedition. These laws were regarded by the Republican Party as unconstitutional, and subversive of the liberty of the press and of speech, and were denounced in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. They expired in 1800 and 1801 respectively.
By John Franklin Jameson
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