Kent State Massacre :: essays research papers

The Virginia and Kentucky ResolutionsThe Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were authored in secret by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in response to the repressive extraterrestrial and sedition Acts passed in 1798. In the opinion of Jefferson and Madison, the Acts were unjust. They also represented a major victory for the Federalists. By writing the Resolutions, Jefferson and Madison spearheaded the protests of those against the unknown and Sedition Acts and those in support of stronger states rights. Although the Resolutions were successful in the two originating states, they did not wipe out much success in the other states. Still, the new ideas presented in the Resolutions were around revolutionary. Although the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798 and 1799 were not very successful, they were important because they provided necessary arguments for the supporters of greater states rights against the proponents of a stronger underlying government.The Alien and Sedition Acts played major roles in the coming astir(predicate) of the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions. Passed in early 1798, the Acts laid cut a number of vinegarish restrictions on foreigners. The Alien Act stretched the minimum years for eligibility for naturalization from flipper years to fourteen years. It also gave the President the power to expel either alien from the country. The Sedition Act was even harsher it gave the government the right to blast anyone accused of seditious activities. The Sedition Act thus cracked down on many Jeffersonian newspapers which criticized the government. Of course, Jefferson criticized these Acts he even cal conduct them worthy of the eighth and 9th century (2 / p.174). With these laws the Federalists were thought to be stifling the power of the Jeffersonians.Through the Alien and Sedition Acts, those in support of a stronger federal government achieved a major victory. The Acts gave new powers which were not dictated in the Constitution to both the executive and legislative branches. The Federalists were able to pass these acts with their logic based upon barren translations of the Constitution, especially the elastic clause. In peacetime, these Acts would not have had a opportunity in being passed, but the undeclared war with France had riled up Congress enough to accept these loose translations.The opponents of the Alien and Sedition Acts were led by Jefferson and Madison in response to the Acts the Republicans launched an clap on what they believed were breaches of the Constitution. The attack on the Alien and Sedition Acts was based upon the strict construction surmisal of the Republicans.