Semester+Exam

Semester Exam - The Alien and Sedition Acts =Part 1: Questions= //**Read the following background information as well as watch the video provided. Using this as well as what you know about U.S. History, write a few questions below that you could use to guide you as a historian through this topic.**//

Signed into law by President John Adams in 1798, the Alien and Sedition Acts consisted of four laws passed by the Federalist-controlled Congress as America prepared for war with France. These acts increased the length of time required for foreign residents to live in the States before they can become a citizen from five to fourteen years. Another authorized the president to imprison or deport aliens considered "dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States". Another restricted speech or publications that was criticizing the government. These laws were designed to silence and weaken the Democratic-Republican Party. Negative reaction to the Alien and Sedition Acts helped contribute to the Democratic-Republican victory in the 1800 elections. media type="custom" key="24866670"

Record your questions here.

=Part 2: Evaluate and Analyze Evidence= //**Historians and students of history use sources to develop interpretations. Using what you have learned about sourcing, contextualizing, close reading, and corroborating sources, evaluate the following documents. You may write on this packet. Answer the questions that follow about what you have gained from this part of the process.**//

Document A: The Alien and Sedition Acts - July 1798

 * An act to establish an uniform rule of naturalization:** "That no alien shall be admitted to become a citizen of the United States, or of any state unless... he shall have declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, five years, at least, before his admission, and shall... declare and prove... that he has resided within the United States fourteen years..."


 * An Act Concerning Aliens:** “...That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States at any time during the continuance of this act, to order all such aliens as he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States, or shall have reasonable grounds to suspect are concerned in any treasonable or secret machinations against the government thereof, to depart out of the territory of the United States...”


 * An Act Respecting Alien Enemies:** “...That whenever there shall be a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion shall be perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States, by any foreign nation or government, and the President of the United States shall make public proclamation of the event, all natives, citizens, denizens [an inhabitant or occupant of a particular place], or subjects of the hostile nation or government, being males of the age of fourteen years and upwards, who shall be within the United States, and not actually naturalized, shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured and removed, as alien enemies.”


 * An Act in Addition to the Act, Entitled "An Act for the Punishment of Certain Crimes Against the United States:** "That if any persons shall unlawfully combine or conspire together, with intent to oppose any measure or measures of the government of the United States... he or they shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor... That if any person shall write, print, utter or publish, or shall cause or procure to be written, printed, uttered or published, or shall knowingly and willingly assist or aid in writing, printing, uttering or publishing any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States... or to stir up sedition within the United States, or to excite any unlawful combinations therein, for opposing or resisting any law of the United States... shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, and by imprisonment not exceeding two years."

Document B: Bill of Rights - Ratified March 4, 1789

 * Amendment I** Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.


 * Amendment V** No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.


 * Amendment VI** In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Document C: The Virginia Resolution - December 24, 1798
"That the General Assembly [of Virginia] doth particularly protest against the palpable and alarming infractions of the Constitution, in the two late cases of the "Alien and Sedition Acts" passed at the last session of Congress; the first of which exercises a power no where delegated to the federal government, and which by uniting legislative and judicial powers to those of executive, subverts the general principles of free government; as well as the particular organization, and positive provisions of the federal constitution; and the other of which acts, exercises in like manner, a power not delegated by the constitution, but on the contrary, expressly and positively forbidden by one of the amendments thererto; a power, which more than any other, ought to produce universal alarm, because it is levelled against that right of freely examining public characters and measures, and of free communication among the people thereon..."

"...the General Assembly doth solemenly appeal to the like dispositions of the other states, in confidence that they will concur with this commonwealth in declaring, as it does hereby declare, that the acts aforesaid, are unconstitutional..."

Document D: Table of Political Differences Between Political Parties in the Late 1790s

 * Led by Alexander Hamilton||Led by Thomas Jefferson||
 * Believed that the wealthy and educated should lead the nation||Believed that the people should have political power||
 * Favored strong national government||Favored strong state governments||
 * Emphasized manufacturing, shipping and trade||Emphasized an agrarian society, based on farming||
 * Favored a loose interpretation of the Constitution||Favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution||
 * Were pro-British||Were pro-French||
 * Favored the National Bank||Opposed the National Bank||
 * Favored a protective tariff||Opposed a protective tariff||
 * Favored a protective tariff||Opposed a protective tariff||

//**Based on the questions you asked in Part 1, what's missing from the documents here: what is one document that you would like to find in order to answer your questions? What would that document, if it existed, provide you?**//

//**Document B consists of a few of the first ten amendments to the Constitution; we call these the Bill of Rights. What protections are guaranteed in the excerpted amendments above? Who, or what, are we protected from?**//

//**In Document C, the author is James Madison. How does his authorship affect how we understand the contents of his message? For instance, where he says "the first of which exercises a power no where delegated to the federal government", from what authority does he speak? Explain.**//

//**The table (Document D) has no heading row. What should be at the top of each column, labeling the information below it?**//

=Part 3: Interpretation= //**Now that you have evaluated the evidence, what conclusions have you __begun__ to come to? Keep in mind that I am not asking for an essay on what you've learned, but rather an outpouring of __your thoughts__ regarding the Federalist party leadership, the Alien and Sedition Acts, and the response to those laws. Sentences that begin with "I think that maybe..." are perfectly acceptable here.**//