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"In 1798, President Adams signed into law the Alien and Sedition Acts. These acts were four bills which were designed to crush the opposition. The Naturalization Act made it more difficult for immigrants to become citizens. It raised the amount of years required for naturalization from four to fifteen. This act was repealed in 1802. The Alien Act empowered the president to arrest and deport any alien who is considered to be dangerous. This act expired in 1800.
The Alien Enemies Act was directed at French immigrants. It authorized the president to round up and imprison enemy aliens during war time. This act expired in 1801. The Naturalization and Alien Acts were aimed largely at Irish immigrants and French refugees who had participated in political activities critical to the Adams administration. In a severe blow to the freedom of the press, the sedition act threatened with fine and imprisonment anyone who "shall write, print, utter or publish...scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the government of the United States, or either House of the Congress...or the President...with intent to defame...or to bring them...into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against them...the hatred of the good people of the United States."
The Sedition Act was an attempt to curb newspaper editors who supported the Republican Party and who, in many cases, were also immigrants and refugees. Before this act expired, twenty five people were arrested and about ten were convicted. Some of them were later pardoned."
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