Alien And Sedition Acts Dbq Analysis

The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798

The Alien and Sedition Acts were not merely intended for immigrants who spoke out against the government but more to detain the growth of the Democratic - Republican Party. These four Acts coercively lessoned the likelihood of the party mounting power by eliminating its majority group; soon to be citizens. Many issues led up to the creation of the Acts. This Cause and Effect can be traced all the way back to George Washington's Presidency; a few years after the creation of the Constitutional government after the Articles of Confederation were expulsed.
In the beginnings of the United States there was a unity called Federalism. Although legislators had serious differences of opinions, political unity was considered absolutely essential for the stability of the nation;
The English "Order of Council" and the French "Milan Decree" caused great problems with American shipping and lead to the Jay's Treaty of 1794. Jay's treaty was an advantage to America and helped to head off a war with Britain, but also alienated the French. The French began to seize American ships causing the threat of war in all American's minds. Thus, President Adams sent three commissioners to France to work out a solution and to modify the Franco-American Alliance of 1778. But the French Government asked for bribe off $250, 000 and a loan of $12 million dollars before they could speak with the Directory. The American commissioners refused to pay and two of them returned to the United States with Elbridge Gerry staying to work something out. America was outraged; with the phrase" Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute" being coined. This became and undeclared war between the French and American Navy; The XYZ Affair. This immediately gratified the Federalist Party; they denounced all treaties with France and began the edifying of a large standing Army and