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Example research essay topic: Alien And Sedition Acts - 1,675 words

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In 1798 the United States was involved in an undeclared war with France. Fear of the French immigrants in the United States, caused the government to pass two acts. The acts were called the Alien and Sedition Acts. These acts helped to succor the government's sense of security for the United States. Although the government accepted the acts, people like James Monroe were apposed to what the acts stood for. To protest the Alien and Sedition Acts, the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were written to show that the acts were unconstitutional.

Congress approved the Alien Act on July 6, 1798. The act read as follows, "Section 1, That whenever there shall be a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion shall be perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States, by any foreign nation or government, and the President of the United States shall make public proclamation of the event, all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government, being males of the age of fourteen years and upwards, who shall be within the United States, and not actually naturalized, shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured and removed, as alien enemies. And the President of the United States shall be, and he is hereby authorized, in any event, as aforesaid, by his proclamation thereof, or other public act, to direct the conduct to be observed, on the part of the United States, towards the aliens who shall become liable, as aforesaid; the manner and degree of the restraint to which they shall be subject, and in what cases, and upon what security their residence shall be permitted, and to provide for the removal of those, who, not being permitted to reside within the United States, shall refuse or neglect to depart therefrom; and to establish any other regulations which shall be found necessary in the premises and for the public safety: Provided, that aliens resident within the United States, who shall become liable as enemies, in the manner aforesaid, and who shall not be chargeable with actual hostility, or other crime against the public safety, shall be allowed, for the recovery, disposal, and removal of their goods and effects, and for their departure, the full time which is, or shall be stipulated by any treaty, where any shall have been between the United States, and the hostile nation or government, of which they shall be natives, citizens, denizens or subjects: and where no such treaty shall have existed, the President of the United States may ascertain and declare such reasonable time as may be consistent with the public safety, and according to the dictates of humanity and national hospitality. " The act stated that in time of war, the President of the United States has the right to take action against any person who was a citizen of the country the United States was at war with. The President was given the power to act against the citizens of the country at war with the United States, as long as the person was a male, not a citizen of the United States, and at least the age of fourteen years old. The Sedition Act was approved by congress on July 14, 1798.

It differed from the Alien Act; the Alien Act affected all United States citizens and not only the aliens. The Alien Act was also clearer on the point of a person being convicted of any crime against the United States. The act stated, "Section 1, That if any persons shall unlawfully combine or conspire together, with intent to oppose any measure or measures of the government of the United States, which are or shall be directed by proper authority, or to impede the operation of any law of the United States, or to intimidate or prevent any person holding a place or office in or under the government of the United States, from undertaking, performing or executing his trust or duty, and if any person or persons, with intent as aforesaid, shall counsel, advise or attempt to procure any insurrection, riot, unlawful assembly, or combination, whether such conspiracy, threatening, counsel, advice, or attempt shall have the proposed effect or not, he or they shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and on conviction, before any court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, and by imprisonment during a term not less than six months nor exceeding five years; and further, at the discretion of the court may be ho]den to find sureties for his good behaviour in such sum, and for such time, as the said court may direct." The act clearly states that any treason towards the United States will not be tolerated, and the person responsible for the crime will be punished. Also the act states anything written or published negative material towards the United States is a crime and will be punished before a court. "Section 3, That if any person shall be prosecuted under this act, for the writing or publishing any libel aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the dependant, upon the trial of the cause, to give in evidence in his defence, the truth of the matter contained in Republication charged as a libel. And the jury who shall try the cause, shall have a right to determine the law and the fact, under the direction of the court, as in other cases." This section states the courts roll in providing the guidelines of a fair trail or investigation. The Sedition Act was a product of the government's fear of the situation the United States was in.

The government needed to protect the United States from inside the Nation while they were at war with France. The Alien and Sedition Acts were not a complete success with the United States as a whole. Virginia and Kentucky both protested the acts through the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. "That the General Assembly of Virginia, doth unequivocally express a firm resolution to maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of this State, against every aggression either foreign or domestic, and that they will support the government of the United States in all measures warranted by the former. That this assembly most solemnly declares a warm attachment to the Union of the States, to maintain which it pledges all its powers; and that for this end, it is their duty to watch over and oppose every infraction of those principles which constitute the only basis of that Union, because a faithful observance of them, can alone secure it's existence and the public happiness" Passed by the Senate, Virginia was the first to send their resolution on December 24, 1798. The carefully written document states Virginia's incongruity with addition of the Alien and Sedition Acts that they are unconstitutional and Virginia did not support the two acts. One year later Kentucky sent their resolution protesting the Alien and Sedition Act.

Approved by the Senate on December 3, 1799, Kentucky stated, "The representatives of the good people of this commonwealth in general assembly convened, having maturely considered the answers of sundry states in the Union, to their resolutions passed at the last session, respecting certain unconstitutional laws of Congress, commonly called the alien and sedition laws, would be faithless indeed to themselves, and to those they represent, were they silently to acquiesce in principles and doctrines attempted to be maintained in all those answers, that of Virginia only excepted. To again enter the field of argument, and attempt more fully or forcibly to expose the unconstitutionality of those obnoxious laws, would, it is apprehended be as unnecessary as unavailing. We cannot however but lament, that in the discussion of those interesting subjects, by sundry of the legislatures of our sister states, unfounded suggestions, and un candid insinuations, derogatory of the true character and principles of the good people of this commonwealth, have been substituted in place of fair reasoning and sound argument. Our opinions of those alarming measures of the general government, together with our reasons for those opinions, were detailed with decency and with temper, and submitted to the discussion and judgment of our fellow citizens throughout the Union. Whether the decency and temper have been observed in the answers of most of those states who have denied or attempted to obviate the great truths contained in those resolutions, we have now only to submit to a candid world. Faithful to the true principles of the federal union, unconscious of any designs to disturb the harmony of that Union, and anxious only to escape the fangs of despotism, the good people of this commonwealth are regardless of censure or calumniation" The Kentucky document was a follow up to the Virginia document; Kentucky joined Virginia in the protest of the Alien and Sedition Acts.

The Kentucky Resolution served as a more serious protest against the acts, as the Virginia Resolution served the purpose of showing the government that the public did not agree with the acts. The acts were unaffected by the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions and the acts were used. A modern day example of the Alien and Sedition Acts in use would be after September 11, 2001. The government used the acts to contain possible foreign criminals or men thought to be apart of the terrorist group that committed the crime.

The acts were used when the United States held the men from the Boston hotel on suspicion that they were apart of the tragedy. After the two men were arrested and contained by the F. B. I. , they were given a fair trial and found guilty by the evidence against them.

In the events that followed the terrorist act the government had to take fast action in bringing the culprits to justice; the Alien and Sedition Acts played a part in helping the government of the United States reach some of their objectives.


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