Name______________________ Date_____________________
The Alien and Sedition Acts
PERILOUS TIMES: Free Speech in Wartime from the Sedition Act of 1798 to the War on Terrorism by Geoffrey R. Stone W. W. Norton & Co. November 2004
In
1798 Matthew Lyon, a US Congressman from Vermont, was (1)_____________ $1000
and sent to (2)_____________ for four months.
Lyon was a Jeffersonian Republican (the (3)_____________ that later
became known as the Democratic party) and his (4)_____________ was in
publishing harsh (5)_____________ of the Federalist president, John Adams.
Someone (6)_____________ history today might wonder why the First Amendment of the US Constitution of the United States did not (7)_____________ the trial and imprisonment of a famous US Congressman. Geoffrey Stone, a (8)_____________ at the University of Chicago Law School, wrote his book “Perilous Times” to help Americans understand that their right - even under the Constitution - can (9)_____________ be taken for granted. Professor Stone believes that “dissent in wartime can be the highest from of patriotism”, but important people in (10)_____________ do not always share this sentiment. Professor Stone wants Americans to be more (11)_____________ in their understanding of free speech laws and the ways that (12)_____________ rights can be threatened in times of (13)_____________ or crisis.
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civil crime
criticisms fined government jail never party
prevent professor sophisticated studying war |
In 1798 the US was (1)_____________ in
a “Quasi-War” with France. This was a
(2)_____________, but undeclared naval war that resulted from French and British
(3)_____________ with American shipping. At the time France was in the
(4)_____________ of its famous French Revolution, and there was incredible fear
of French inspired radicals and (5)_____________. This fear was especially strong among (6)_____________
Federalists who (7)_____________ with Great Britain which was at war with
France.
The Federalists, who (8)_____________ Congress and the Presidency, were also afraid of the (9)_____________ who were gaining popularity. In 1798 the Federalists (10)_____________ four laws which became known to history as “The Alien and Sedition Acts”. One reason for these laws was to make it harder for foreign radicals under the (11)_____________ of the French (12)_____________ to gain voting rights. The Jeffersonians, however, (13)_____________ this law because most recent immigrants were sympathetic to their party, and these laws made it more (14)_____________ for them to gain citizenship and voting rights. But it was the Sedition Act that was a direct (15)_____________ to free speech. This law (16)_____________ penalties for spoken or (17)_____________ criticism of the government. Jefferson’s followers in Congress (18)_____________ against the law saying it was against the First Amendment. The Federalists made an argument based on English Common Law where free speech rights were understood mainly as a (19)_____________ against “Prior Restraint”. Their point was that their law would not prevent someone from speaking or publishing beforehand; it would only punish them (20)_____________ the “speech act” had been committed. The Federalists in Congress had the votes, and they passed their laws which President Adams (21)_____________.
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after argued
challenge controlled difficult engaged fierce imposed
influence interference Jeffersonians middle passed prohibition resented
Revolution rich signed
sympathized terrorists written |
As
(1)__________ had feared, the laws were used against his supporters. Matthew Lyon was only one of 17 people tried
and (2)__________ under the Sedition Act.
Most of the others were newspaper (3)__________ who were sympathetic to
the Jeffersonian (4)__________.
Jefferson’s
(5)__________ in the election of 1800 quickly (6)__________ an end to the Alien
and Sedition Acts. Not only was Thomas
Jefferson elected president, but his followers achieved (7)__________ in
Congress. The Federalists would never
control the Presidency or Congress (8)__________ although, thanks to a rash of
last minute (9)__________ appointments, they would control the Federal courts
for many (10)__________ afterwards.
Was
this episode a (11)__________ or a defeat for the principle of free
speech? It may have been the
(12)__________ time that the First Amendment was challenged, but it was
certainly not the (13)__________.
Professor Stone thinks it is (14)__________ for people to know that the
First Amendment only (15)__________ what the federal government can do. The First Amendment has nothing to say about what state governments or
(16)__________ institutions can do to use their power over people to restrict
free speech.
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again brought
cause convicted editors
first important Jefferson judicial last majorities private restricts victory years |
Review
____________________ The Second President of the United States
____________________ The Third President of the United States
____________________ The political party of John Adams and Alexander Hamilton
____________________ The political party of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
____________________ The US fought a “quasi” naval war with this country
____________________ The election of this year represents the
first major transfer of power in the political history of the US under the
Constitution
____________________ After 1801, the Federalists kept control of (only) this branch of the Federal government.