Dbq: Alien and Sedation Acts of 1798

As time surges on so does the bitterness between countries. 1797 marks a commemorative year as the “XYZ Affair” later launched a series of acts that created tension throughout the country. The Alien and Sedation Acts of 1798 not only oppressed the freedom of aliens wanting to become citizens in the country, but broaden conflicts between the Federalist and Republican parties, and the beginnings of a break in the government.

The two political parties of Federalists and Republicans differed to a great extent and centered on domestic and foreign policy differences, reached their highest point of disagreement upon the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1978, in purpose that one party would remain in control by limiting the power and growth of the other party (Doc S). Under the threat of war with France, Congress in 1798 passed four laws in an effort to strengthen the Federal government, known as the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. These acts did not permit anyone to criticize the government at all, through writing, or any other shape, form, or fashion as if their views on government did not matter at all (Doc B). Many people wished that acts would be executed for they knew that it would divide the nation that was trying to become one (Doc O). It also extended the time to become an American citizen, since the Federalists believed that most of the foreigners would become Republicans. The Alien Act and the Alien Enemies Act gave the president the right to deport immigrants suspected of activities posing a threat to the national government during peacetime and arrest, imprison, and deport any immigrant subject to an enemy power during wartime, though because of their partiality towards the Republican Party, the terms of this law could be expanded to define crimes such as treason in looser terms (Doc O).

The Federalist and Republican parties would attempt to find any information that could possibly have the other party loose power since the soul purpose of the parties was only greediness in office (Doc F). The XYZ Affair was just another way Republicans could slander Federalists with an incident of bribery, to begin foreign affairs with France (Doc M). When Federalists refused to pay these bribes, an undeclared naval war began, and the information seeped into the public's ears, shocking Republicans (Doc L). This type of action from the political parties was inevitable and the people of that time also knew this (Doc K). The Republicans were particularly hurt by one of the first acts, the Naturalization Act, which changed the number of years