jul 26, 1798 - Alien and Sedition Acts

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The mounting resentment against the French in the United States granted the Federalists a majority in Congress in 1798. With it, they passed laws to weaken the Democratic-Republicans. A large segment of their voting base was among immigrants, so with the Naturalization Act, they lengthened the process for them to become citizens and be eligible to vote. The Alien Acts similarly targeted immigrants; they gave the President the power to deport any non-citizen he deemed dangerous. Along with these xenophobic laws, Congress passed the Sedition Act which criminalized criticisms against the government. It was seen as an attack against the First Amendment.

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