Alien And Sedition Acts example essay topic

ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS In 1798, when Congress passed both the Alien and Sedition Acts, it was very much constitutional. These acts were definitely in the best interest of America. America was a significantly young nation, at the time, and could not afford to create problems caused by foreigners coming to America. They did not have enough national power to sustain order if everyone was attacking the newly created laws, and many of those rebels being citizens from foreign countries, nevertheless.

These acts were, of no questions asked, surly constitutional. The Federalist Party presented these acts, later consequently passed by Congress, because they were and fair and just laws in accordance to the nation at that time. For the sake of argument, the nation and government was very inexperienced, and did not know what to expect in their near future. John Adams became the second president of the United States of America, subsequently, having to accept many challenges and responsibilities to fulfill the job in office. He had the task of making sure that the newly founded nation kept running smooth.

That is a big burden if there are activities going on in the country that one has no control, nor knowledge of (i.e. foreigners coming into the nation and starting trouble by disrupting the form of government, or having radicals trying to protest and perturb the running government in office-Federalists, at this time). John Adams was smart enough to realize the significance of these factors. Thus, taking his duty of President of USA seriously, he, along with the Federalist-controlled Congress, took action to protect the new country. Hence, were the creation and passing of the four, debate-causing laws (Naturalization, Alien, Alien Enemies, and Sedition Acts). These all made sense to be in effect for the time and date because many of the immigrants coming to the USA were Irish exiles (for plotting against British rule), British radicals, and French people (wanting to rebel against Adams). On these grounds, and many more, President Adams and the Federalist-controlled Congress had reason to believe that they had to protect their country from stirring troubles.

In view of that, the government was permitted to the authority of deporting or imprisoning any foreigner that he saw fit. This is a very sensible power that the president ought to have had back then, given the particular situation. They also were entitled to enforce such laws to protect against from just any, unintelligent foreigners from intruding in their country to vote and such for legally binding decisions of the nation. They were not educated enough to do so, so why should they have had the chance?

With these laws, this kind of predicament was avoided. So, the Naturalization Act was also imperative to assist in averting another problem; the newcomers would have a more difficult time in obtaining citizenship. Finally, it is coherent to also think that the Sedition Act was a logical law. The USA did not have a stable enough central government to be able to maintain solidity when admitted with a lot of opposition.

That is why this law was enforced, not to strip people from any of their freedoms, but to assure strength in the newly founded government. This is what prevented disorder and eventually led to the wonderful future our country would maintain for the next two centuries. Now, that we have a very strong, powerful, and central government, these freedoms will not interrupt the success of our nation; we can handle it. In conclusion, it was incontrovertibly in the best interest of all Americans alike for the Alien and Sedition Acts to be enforced when they were. The Federalists were correct in their method of thinking.

They had just come out of the American Revolution, and knew better when they wanted to shun another war for the still some-what unsteady nation. Evidently, the acts proved successful for their time in history. And now, 200 years later, they should not be criticized for what they were.