What were the Alien and Sedition Acts?

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The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of laws passed by the Federalist-dominated Congress and signed into law by President John Adams in 1798. The Sedition Act made it illegal to say or print anything that criticized the federal government or its officials, while the Alien Act gave the president greater powers to deport and imprison immigrants suspected of being a threat to national security. These acts were highly controversial and widely criticized by the Democratic-Republican opposition, and ultimately helped contribute to the decline of the Federalist Party.

What Were the Alien and Sedition Acts