Why did Thomas Jefferson turn to nullification in an effort to right the wrongs of the Alien and Sedition Acts?

(1 point)
The Federalists controlled the courts.
He had significant influence over the states.
He believed the states were meant to control the federal government.
The states had the same right of judicial review as the Supreme Court.

1 answer

Thomas Jefferson turned to nullification in an effort to right the wrongs of the Alien and Sedition Acts primarily because he believed the states were meant to control the federal government. This perspective was rooted in the idea that states had the authority to challenge and invalidate federal laws they deemed unconstitutional. Jefferson and his supporters felt that the Alien and Sedition Acts overstepped federal authority and violated the rights of individuals, thus justifying the use of nullification as a means to protect states' rights and liberties.