The Federalists struck at their political opponents in the late 1790s by passing the Alien and Sedition Acts. These laws were passed in 1798 during the presidency of John Adams, who was a Federalist, and aimed to limit criticism of the federal government and curb the power of immigrants. The Alien Act authorized the president to expel any foreigner deemed a threat to the nation's security, while the Sedition Act criminalized speech that was critical of the government or officeholders, leading to the arrests and convictions of several journalists and newspaper editors. The Federalists saw these laws as necessary to protect the government and maintain order during a time of political unrest and conflict with France, but they were widely criticized by the Democratic-Republicans as an attack on free speech and civil liberties. The Alien and Sedition Acts were not renewed after their expiration date, and Adams' decision to support the laws proved to be a significant factor in his defeat in the 1800 presidential election.