Team Polaris
American History
Name ________________
Date _________________
I Am An American!
Directions: Please read the attached secondary source and answer the
following questions.
Reading: “The Alien and Sedition Acts” from www.ushistory.org
1. Why did France become a threat to America?
2. Who passed the Alien and Sedition Acts?
3. Define the Alien Act.
4. Define the Sedition Act.
5. Why did Adams target foreigners coming to America?
6. What type of person was targeted by the Sedition Act?
7. How did this violate the 1st Amendment?
8. Why didn’t the Supreme Court say the law was “unconstitutional”?
9. How did Kentucky oppose the laws?
10. What was the result of Jefferson’s election win in 1800?
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The Alien and Sedition Acts
No protesting the government? No immigrants allowed
in? No freedom of the press. Lawmakers jailed? Is this
the story of the Soviet Union during the Cold War?
No. It describes the United States in 1798 after the
passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts.
The strong steps that President John Adams took in
response to the French foreign threat (because
America didn’t support their revolution) also
included severe repression of protests in the United
States. 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. Previously a new immigrant would have to reside in the United States for five years
before becoming eligible to vote, but a new law raised this to 14 years.
Clearly, the Federalists saw foreigners as a deep threat to American security. As one
Federalist in Congress declared, there was no need to "invite hordes of Wild
Irishmen, nor the turbulent and disorderly of all the world, to come here
with a basic view to distract our tranquillity." Not coincidentally, non-English
speaking groups had been the main supporters of the Democratic-Republicans in 1796
(Jefferson).
The most controversial of the new laws permitting strong government control over
individual actions was the SEDITION ACT. In essence, this Act prohibited public
opposition to the government. Fines and imprisonment could be used against those who
"write, print, utter, or publish . . . any false, scandalous and malicious
writing against the government.”
Under the terms of this law over 20 Republican newspaper editors were arrested and some
were imprisoned. The most dramatic victim of the law was REPRESENTATIVE
MATTHEW LYON of Vermont. His letter that criticized President Adams' "unbounded
thirst for ridiculous pomp, foolish adulation, and self avarice" caused him to be
imprisoned. While Federalists sent Lyon to prison for his opinions, his constituents
(people he represents) reelected him to Congress even from his jail cell.
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A fight in Congress! This image
appeared in Harper's New Monthly
Magazine nearly a century after the
incident between Lyon and Griswold
with the poetic caption: "He in a trice
struck Griswold thrice / Upon his
head enraged, Sir; / Who seized the
tongs to ease his wrongs, / And
Griswold thus engaged, Sir."
The Sedition Act clearly violated individual
protections under the first amendment of the
Constitution; however, the practice of
"JUDICIAL REVIEW," whereby the
Supreme Court considers the constitutionality
of laws was not yet well developed.
Furthermore, the justices were all strong
Federalists. As a result, Madison and Jefferson
directed their opposition to the new laws to
state legislatures. The Virginia and Kentucky
legislatures passed resolutions declaring the
federal laws invalid within their states. The bold
challenge to the federal government offered by
this strong states' rights position seemed to
point toward imminent armed conflict within
the United States.
Enormous changes had occurred in the
explosive decade of the 1790s. Federalists in
government now viewed the persistence of their
party as the equivalent of the survival of the
republic. This led them to enact and enforce
harsh laws. Madison, who had been the chief architect of a strong central government in
the Constitution, now was wary of national authority. He actually helped the KENTUCKY
LEGISLATURE to reject federal law. By placing states’ rights above those of the federal
government, Kentucky and Virginia had established a precedent that would be used to
justify the secession of southern states in the Civil War
When Jefferson won the election of 1800, the Alien and Sedition Acts were repealed, jail
cells were emptied, and the first amendment was secure.
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Writing Prompt 7: Expressions of a True American
1. You begin this prompt in the year 1798, just 2 years since the election of 1796. Use
the years to determine your age at this time.
2. President John Adams and the Federalist Party lead the nation after 8 years under
George Washington. At the same time Thomas Jefferson of the DemocraticRepublican Party, assumes the role of Vice-President.
3. Since you assisted your state in writing a Constitution in 1784, you have maintained
the status of a very important person within your state.
4. As a result of this status, an editor of a local newspaper asks you to write a short
response article about the newly passed Alien and Sedition Acts. He also insists that
you include an editorial cartoon expressing your feelings.
5. You write a short paragraph about your overall feelings regarding these newly
passed acts, and also include a small cartoon illustrating your facts. (Please use
the quotes and information from the reading.)
6. As you submit your writing to the editor of the newspaper you are fully aware of
the consequences regarding this article. From this point forward you will be
viewed differently by your fellow Americans.
Scenario #1
1. Write your article, and draw your cartoon, showing how unjust these acts really
are.
2. Use the Constitution to support your beliefs.
3. As a result of this work, you are taken from your home by the local constable and
thrown in prison for committing the act of Sedition (criticizing the
government).
4. You describe the dark/damp/crowded prison cell you are to remain in.
5. While in prison you debate fiercely with another inmate, a supporter of the acts,
about the constitutionality of these laws.
6. Following this debate, the constable arrives and gives you 2 choices…
a. Stick to your beliefs and remain in prison for 2 years.
b. Rewrite the article and apologize for what was said.
Choices


If you remain in prison you will explain why you will not go against your
American ideals. During this time, you begin to grow frail and move closer to
death.
If you apologize, you will suffer the consequences expressed in Scenario #2.
Refer to scenario #2 on the reverse side.
Make your choice carefully as it will have serious consequences for the
future of your family!
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Scenario #2
1. Write your article, and draw your cartoon, by supporting the Alien and Sedition
Acts.
2. Use the handout and quotes to support your writing.
3. As a result of your work in the newspaper you become the target of immigrant
groups in your town.
4. While eating dinner with your family, several bricks are thrown through your
windows. You hide your family and run out to see the source of this violence.
5. You find a mob of 35 Irish immigrants demanding your capture.
6. You debate fiercely with the leader of this Irish mob about the Alien and Sedition
Acts.
7. During the debate, the crowd grows even more restless, and gives you 2 choices…
a. Rewrite the article and apologize for what was said.
b. Not apologize and stick to your American ideals.
Choices


If you rewrite your article and apologize for what you said then the result will be
imprisonment for committing the act of Sedition (speaking out against the
government). During this time, you begin to grow frail and move closer to death.
If you don’t apologize and stick to your American ideals, your home will be burned
to the ground, leaving you and your family homeless. During this time, the stress is
too much and you begin to grow frail, moving closer to death
Make your choice carefully as it will have serious consequences for the
future of your family!
Both Scenarios:
1. Regardless of your choice, you grow sick and know the end is coming. You decide to
meet with your family, letting them know that you are passing on the torch to the
next generation.
2. You let them know that they must always stay true to their American beliefs and
always look to expand their ideas as the country grows. Say to them, “This will
make you a true American.”
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Peer Evaluation – Writing Prompt #7
Name of Writer: _____________________
Name of Evaluator: ___________________
Directions: Please put a check in the space provided if the story contains the
information. You will then add up the check marks to determine the point
value. Remember, if you cannot prove where you found the check mark, you
will lose the point!
Does the story contain the following?
1. Does the story mention the year and how old the character is? _____
2. Does the story describe Adams and Jefferson, along with their political parties?
_____
3. Does the story say that you have been a very important person in your state and you
have been selected to write an article for the local newspaper about the Alien and
Sedition Acts and also a cartoon illustrating your thoughts? _____
4. Does the story include a newspaper with a name of the newspaper, title for article, 8
sentence article, and a cartoon? _____
5. Does the newspaper cartoon match the feelings of the article? _____
SCENARIO #1 ONLY – Alien and Sedition Acts are unfair.
1. Does the article use the Constitution to support their feelings? _____
2. Does the story describe how you were taken from your home and thrown in prison
for violating the Sedition Act? _____
3. Does the story describe the fierce debate between the main character and the inmate
in prison regarding the Acts? _____
4. Does the story describe the two choices that the Constable gives the main character?
_____
5. Is a clear decision made regarding these choices and is a full explanation included
explaining why they chose that option? _____
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SCENARIO #2 ONLY – Supporting the Alien and Sedition Acts
1. Does the story contain quotes from the handout describing the fairness of the Acts?
_____ ex. “invite hordes of Wild Irishmen, no the turbulent and disorderly of all
the world, to come here with a basic view to distract our tranquility.”
2. Does the story contain a description of how you are now a target for immigrant
groups in your town? _____
3. Does the story describe the dinner in which bricks are thrown through the windows
and the family is then hidden? _____
4. Does the story describe the mob of Irish immigrants and the debate that the main
character has with the mob leader? _____
5. Is there a clear decision made regarding the choices the mob leader gives and a full
explanation included explaining why they chose that option? _____
Additional Points
1. Does the story mention how the main character is now passing the torch on to the
next generation? _____
2. Does the story mention how the next generation must be true to their beliefs as the
country expands? _____
3. Does the story mention “this will make you a true American”? _____
4. Does the story contain dialogue? _____
Total Points______/14
Overall Point of View
(What did you think of the story?)
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