Alien and Sedition Acts

In the late 1780's to the 1790's there were many different controversial topics, in the United States, including both domestic and foreign policies. American’s reactions were heightened due to the fighting between political parties and sense of distrust with other nations. This time of instability and turbulence set the stage for the passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts. In order to understand all of these events, the basis of the two political parties that started the conflict must be explained.

When George Washington became America’s first President in 1789, there were no political parties (PK). Throughout his two terms though, his cabinet members’ beliefs and standings on different topics became more differentiated, causing what were just factions into an actual political parties. In Washington’s cabinet there were several obvious rivalries and alliances against other members such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison against Alexander Hamilton (Doc. D). These three had a deep running rivalry with many contrasting views, Jefferson and Madison were Democratic-Republicans, whereas Alexander Hamilton was a Federalist, and they helped to found the first political parties in America.

The Federalists were founded by Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton around 1792 (PK). He and his fellow Federalists believed in a strong central or federal government, and also thought that the Constitution should be loosely interpreted. They tended to follow the theory that “what wasn’t forbidden was permitted.” Those who were Federalists most often belonged to the upper tier in society. Their main supporters were merchants, manufacturers, and shippers. They believed that the powerful and wealthy should be the ones that were in charge of the government and didn’t trust the average man. When it came to international relations the Federalists often favored the British.

The Democratic - Republican Party was founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Jefferson himself wrote to Francis Hopkinson describing how he was most surely not a Federalist, in any way or form (Doc. C) Democratic-Republicans had very contrasting views from the Federalists, they believed that the Constitution should be strictly adhered to, were for states’ rights, and tended to favor the French when it came to foreign affairs. Their supporters were also from a different class, most were farmers, or common people (PK).

During this period there was also a lot of turbulent wars and instability throughout Europe. One of the issues that affected America was whether or not we should support the French Revolution against King Louis XVI. The more liberal Democratic- Republicans (or Jeffersonians) were thrilled with the idea that another country was fighting for their independence much likes America had. Some Federalists though, were not convinced that the French Revolution should be supported. Alexander Hamilton voiced his opinion of those that supported France, saying “the choice for him lies between being deemed a fool, a madman, or a traitor” (Doc. I). At first the revolution was relatively peaceful, but in 1793 it was learned that the king had been beheaded and many people switched their views completely. Some Democratic- Republicans though, still thought that America should honor the Franco-American alliance of 1778 and help the French win their independence. Washington though, issued the Neutrality Proclamation in 1793, which proclaimed that The United States was neutral and would not be involved (PK). Many pro-French Jeffersonians were infuriated by Washington’s proclamation, and by his method of doing so, without the consult of Congress. Federalists on the other hand were pleased with the policy. Debate soon followed between the ever dividing political parties.

Although Washington wanted neutrality for the young growing country, Great Britain tried many American’s patience. The British retained land on U.S. soil, despite the peace treaty of 1783. They also supplied many Native Americans with weapons that were later used on American frontiersman, and even went so far as to seize hundreds of American merchant ships near the West Indies. These acts enraged many Americans, especially Demo-Republicans, who thought that the U.S. should fight Britain once again. Federalists though, opposed the idea of another war, and Washington agreed. He sent Chief Justice John Jay to London in 1794, and the two countries hashed out the out of balance Jay Treaty (PK). Many Democratic- Republicans were furious with this treaty because they considered it an act of surrender to the British, and a betrayal to the southern states.

A few years later in 1797 another serious international controversy came about involving the XYZ affair. The French had been very insulted by Jay’s Treaty, which they considered