Alien and Sedition Acts

• Set up by Federalists to protect nation from noncitizens1. First Alien law lengthened time to become a citizen from

5 years to 14 years– Most immigrants were Republican, so this angered Jefferson

2. Other two Alien laws set up so president could deport or jail any spies – French spies a threat at the time (Edmond Genet)

3. Sedition Act: outlawed starting a rebellion• Printing, speaking or rousing a rebellion not allowed• Federalist wanted people to stop trying to destroy the gov’t• Or if they wrote poorly about President Adams

Stopping the Federalists

• Jefferson and James Madison (Republicans) argued that the government wasn’t allowed to restrict free speech and freedom of the press

• States could nullify the laws• VA and KY only states that nullified

• States’ Rights: States not required to follow unfair federal laws

• VA and KY couldn’t rally any other support and the protest died

Election of 1800

• Jefferson vs. Adams Round 2• Some wanted Hamilton, but he wasn’t born in the US

• Each had a VP candidate• Campaigns:

• Adams: Peace and Prosperity• Jefferson: Frugal and simple Government

» Constitution and States’ rights

• Election all about insulting the other guy• Hamilton helps rig election because he didn’t get

along with Adams. Republicans win

Confusion on the winner

• The Republicans clearly won the election• But Jefferson and his VP, Aaron Burr, technically

had a tie because they were on the same ballot• Voted on in the House• Hamilton breaks the tie by voting for Jefferson,

saying he “isn’t so dangerous”• 12th Amendment makes it clear who will be

president for a party in 1804