Final answer:
The Alien and Sedition Acts were politically motivated to stifle opposition, allowing the Federalists to diminish the influence of their rivals, the Democratic-Republicans, by targeting and prosecuting their critics.
Step-by-step explanation:
A political motive for the Alien and Sedition Acts was to smother political opposition. These acts were passed during the Quasi-War with France and were utilized by the Federalists to diminish the influence of the Democratic-Republican Party. This law targeted French immigrants as well as American citizens who spoke against the federal government, positioning the Federalists to maintain power by repressing dissent.
The Sedition Act, in particular, was used to prosecute individuals who used 'scandalous or malicious' language against the government. In effect, the Acts not only sought to increase national security but also to silence critics and political adversaries, thereby ensuring the dominance of the Federalist Party.