The Alien and Sedition Acts

A Push Towards Political Parties
A huge amount of domestic turmoil and international crisis existed in America during June and July of 1798. This domestic turmoil and international crisis began with the outbreak of the French Revolution and continued on until Congress passed four bills, known as the Sedition and Alien Acts, which caused much controversy and debate.
There was much disputation in 1798 about how much Freedom of Speech should be given to American colonists and the meaning of the First Amendment. In 1791, the Bill of Rights was adopted, as promised by the Federalists. The First Amendment guaranteed certain rights to American colonists, especially the Anti-Federalists who had been hesitant to adopt the Constitution at first and had refused to support it, until a Bill of Rights was promised. …