The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of four laws passed by the United States Congress in 1798 during the presidency of John Adams. The goal of these acts was to strengthen national security and preserve the country's sovereignty, particularly during a period of tensions between the United States and France. The acts primarily aimed to control the activities of foreign residents in the country and restrict freedom of speech and freedom of the press. The Alien Acts authorized the president to deport any non-citizen considered "dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States" and made it harder for immigrants to become citizens. The Sedition Act made it a crime to criticize the government, Congress, or the President, punishable by fines and imprisonment. These acts were controversial and were widely criticized because they were seen as infringing upon individual liberties such as free speech and the rights of immigrants. They played a major role in shaping the debate about the balance between national security and civil liberties in the early years of the United States.
