The Alien and Sedition Acts consisted of four laws enacted by the United States government in 1798. The United States passed these laws during a time of great uncertainty, a time when many Americans feared for the very survival for their nation.
But why did Americans fear for the United States’ existence and why did they think four laws that limited citizenship and freedom of speech would protect and secure their young republic?
Terri Halperin, an instructor at the University of Richmond and author of The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798: Testing the Constitution, will help us find answers to these questions by taking us through the Alien and Sedition Acts and how they came to be.
Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/188
Send Liz your questions about early American history for Episode 200!
Sponsor Links
Omohundro Institute
Children of Uncertain Fortune (Use promo code 01DAH40 to save 40 percent)
Complementary Episodes
Episode 007: John Adams and the Adams Papers Documentary Editing Project
Episode 017: François Furstenberg, When the United States Spoke French
Episode 052: Ronald Johnson, Early United States-Haitian Diplomacy
Episode 076: Nathan Perl-Rosenthal, Citizen Sailors: Becoming American in the Age of Revolution
Episode 165: The Age of Revolutions
Episode 167: Eberhard Faber, The Early History of New Orleans
Helpful Show Links
Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page
Join the Ben Franklin's World Community
Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter
Ben Franklin's World iOS App
Ben Franklin's World Android App
*Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
