Question

In what way did the Alien and Sedition Acts change the authority of the federal government?

(1 point)
Responses

The acts limited the amount of power delegated to each branch of government.

The acts permitted the government to deny citizens' rights in time of war.

The acts clarified the role of the Supreme Court

The acts redefined the powers of the legislative branch.

Answer 1

The response that best describes how the Alien and Sedition Acts changed the authority of the federal government is:

**The acts permitted the government to deny citizens' rights in time of war.**

The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, enacted by the Federalist-controlled Congress and signed into law by President John Adams, allowed for the deportation of non-citizens deemed dangerous and made it a crime to publish false or malicious criticisms of the government. This legislation significantly expanded the powers of the federal government, enabling it to restrict individual rights, particularly during a time perceived as vulnerable due to foreign threats and domestic dissent.