USA HISTORY

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MAKING OF A NEW NATION 1776 1800

PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS FROM ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS TO XYZ AFFAIR

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Sedition Act*Citizens could be prosecuted, fined, or even jailed for criticizing the government.*Some newspaper editors and even members of Congress were prosecuted under the act.*The act prompted the states of Virginia and Kentucky to pass laws claiming that states had the right to nullify federal laws they deemed to be unconstitutional.What argument did Democratic Republicans such as Thomas Jefferson make against the Sedition Act?
A
The federal government could enforce laws even though states disagreed with them.
B
Members of Congress should have immunity from prosecution under the Sedition Act.
C
The Sedition Act was unconstitutional because the First Amendment protects freedom of speech.
D
It was okay to impose fines under the Sedition Act, but jailing those found guility was not allowed by the U.S. Constitution.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -A series of laws known collectively as the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by the Federalist Congress in 1798 and signed into law by President Adams. These laws included new powers to deport foreigners as well as making it harder for new immigrants to vote.

Detailed explanation-2: -Violations of the Sedition Act could lead to as much as 20 years in prison and a fine of $10, 000. More than 2, 000 cases were filed by the government under the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918.

Detailed explanation-3: -Matthew Lyon of Vermont (holding fireplace tongs) and Roger Griswold of Connecticut (holding cane). After being imprisoned for violating the Sedition Act, Lyon won landslide reelection to the House of Representatives. Matthew Lyon (1749–1822) was the first person to be prosecuted under the Sedition Act of 1798.

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