The Alien and Sedition Acts

Question

In 1798, Federalists in Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts. President Adams signed them into law. The word alien described people from other countries who were living in the United States but who were not U.S. citizens. Sedition is behavior that encourages people to be disloyal to the government.

The Alien and Sedition Acts were meant to address the belief that France was becoming an enemy of the United States. Federalists also hoped that the Alien and Sedition Acts could help them control the speech and actions of Democratic-Republicans.




Question
The text below is adapted from the Alien and Sedition Acts. Match each passage from the Alien and Sedition Acts with its meaning.(3 points)
Put responses in the correct input to answer the question. Select a response, navigate to the desired input and insert the response. Responses can be selected and inserted using the space bar, enter key, left mouse button or touchpad. Responses can also be moved by dragging with a mouse.
"It shall be lawful for the president to order any aliens that he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States, or that he has reason to suspect are involved in any [acts of treason] or secret plots against the government, to leave the United States."
"When the United States is at war, all natives, citizens, residents, or subjects of the enemy nation, who shall be within the United States, and not currently citizens, can be arrested, [put in prison], and sent out of the country as alien enemies."
"If any person shall write, print, speak, or publish false, scandalous, and malicious statements against the government, or the Congress, or the president, with the purpose of damaging their reputation, then that person can be put in prison."

Answer 1

Here are the matches for the passages from the Alien and Sedition Acts with their meanings:

1. "It shall be lawful for the president to order any aliens that he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States, or that he has reason to suspect are involved in any [acts of treason] or secret plots against the government, to leave the United States."

   • Meaning: The president has the authority to deport non-citizens who he believes pose a threat to the safety of the nation.

2. "When the United States is at war, all natives, citizens, residents, or subjects of the enemy nation, who shall be within the United States, and not currently citizens, can be arrested, [put in prison], and sent out of the country as alien enemies."

   • Meaning: During wartime, non-citizens from enemy nations can be detained and deported.

3. "If any person shall write, print, speak, or publish false, scandalous, and malicious statements against the government, or the Congress, or the president, with the purpose of damaging their reputation, then that person can be put in prison."

   • Meaning: Individuals can be prosecuted for criticizing or defaming the government or its officials.

You can insert these meanings next to their respective passages as needed.