-They were trying to figure out how America should appropriately respond to the French Revolution. Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans felt sympathetic towards France, whereas the Federalists were more on Britain’s side.
- The Alien and Sedition Act made it more difficult for immigrants to become citizens and included a provision criminalizing false statements. This provision was aimed towards the democratic-republican party. The critics of the Alien and Sedition Acts charged that the acts were unconstitutional and violated the first amendment