Final answer:
The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by Congress in 1798, giving the president power to deport aliens and prosecuting those who criticized the government. These acts, seen as infringing upon constitutional rights, were quickly contested by Democratic-Republicans through the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of four laws passed by the Congress in 1798 during the presidency of John Adams. In the atmosphere of fear and hostility arising from the Quasi-War with France, these acts targeted aliens, or non-citizens, and sought to suppress sedition, or opposition to the federal government. The Alien Act and Alien Enemies Act gave the president the authority to imprison or deport non-citizens perceived as threats during times of war, while the Sedition Act imposed penalties on those speaking or publishing words deemed hostile to the government. Democratic-Republicans found these measures in violation of constitutional rights and responded with the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, which advocated for the states' right to nullify federal laws deemed unconstitutional.
The controversy surrounding the Alien and Sedition Acts also shed light on the federal government's limits in restricting freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Most of these acts were repealed in the Jefferson administration, but the Alien Enemies Act persists in law books. The historical implications of these acts continue to echo in modern discussions about civil liberties during times of conflict.