How did the conflict between states' rights and federal authority manifest during John Adams's presidency?

Question

A.
Some states claimed that limits on slavery violated state police powers and refused to enforce antislavery laws.

B.
Some states claimed the Alien and Sedition Acts violated the Constitution and refused to enforce them.

C.
Some states believed the Indian Removal Act violated state authority to govern territory and refused to enforce the act.

D.
Some states believed the president was going to start a war with Great Britain and refused to pay taxes to the federal government.

Answer 1

The conflict between states' rights and federal authority during John Adams's presidency primarily manifested as outlined in:

B. Some states claimed the Alien and Sedition Acts violated the Constitution and refused to enforce them.

The Alien and Sedition Acts, passed in 1798, were highly controversial and faced significant opposition, particularly from states like Virginia and Kentucky, where state legislatures passed resolutions asserting that these acts were unconstitutional and an overreach of federal authority. This response was part of a broader debate over the balance of power between the federal government and the states, highlighting the tensions inherent in the relationship between state sovereignty and federal authority during that period.