Final answer:
The Alien Act targeted French immigrants seen as security threats, while the Sedition Act aimed to suppress political opposition by penalizing anti-government speech, actions which sparked debates about constitutional rights and states' authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Federalist-dominated Congress's Alien Act was aimed at French immigrants, particularly giving the president the power to deport those deemed a threat to national security during the Quasi-War with France.
The Sedition Act, on the other hand, was primarily aimed at smothering political opposition, by imposing penalties on those who spoke or wrote against the government, a measure that widely targeted the Democratic-Republicans. This act raised constitutional questions, particularly about violating the freedom of the press and speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison opposed these acts with the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, promoting the idea that states had the right to nullify federal laws they found unconstitutional, which was a stepping stone towards advocating for states' rights.