Final answer:
The Kentucky Resolutions advanced states' rights by asserting the principle of nullification and the states' power to challenge unconstitutional federal laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Kentucky Resolutions advanced states' rights by asserting that the Constitution was a pact between independent states. This meant that the states retained certain powers and could challenge federal laws they deemed unconstitutional. Specifically, the resolutions argued for the principle of nullification, which granted states the power to invalidate federal laws within their borders if they believed those laws exceeded the federal government's authority.
This support for nullification was exemplified in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions' response to the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. These acts, which were passed by the federal government, criminalized criticism of the government and targeted immigrants. In this context, the Kentucky Resolutions upheld the rights of states to nullify such unconstitutional laws as a way to protect individual liberties.
The Kentucky Resolutions did not claim that the governor of Kentucky had equal authority to the president. Rather, they focused on the powers and rights of the states in relation to the federal government.
Learn more about Kentucky Resolutions advancing states' rights