Task
4.32
Name ___________________________
Course: US History/Ms. Brown
Date: ___________________
Homeroom:
7th Grade US History
Standard # – Do Now – Day #91
Aims: SWBAT identify the candidates in the election of 1796, and explain the outcome
SWBAT identify and explain the XYZ Affair
SWBAT identify and explain the Alien and Sedition Acts
SWBAT evaluate whether the Alien and Sedition Acts were constitutional
DO NOW
1. Who ran in the election of 1796? Who won the election of 1796?
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2. What party was the new president a member of?
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3. Give one example of the Alien Acts
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4. Define sedition and explain who the sedition laws were targeted against.
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US History, Ms. Brown
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1
Task
4.32
Name ___________________________
Date: ___________________
Homeroom: __________________
I. The XYZ Affair
1. Why was John Adams concerned about the French? How did he respond?
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2. Summarize the event that became known as the X, Y, Z affair.
a. What did the French want? _________________________________________________________
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b. How did the Americans respond to France’s request? ________________________________
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c. How did the X,Y, Z affair conclude? _________________________________________________
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II. Evaluating the Facts and Drawing Conclusions
Directions: Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow in complete
and historically accurate sentences. Use TAGGS.
Four internal security laws passed by the US Congress, restricting aliens and ending
freedom of the press, in anticipation of an unexpected war with France. After the XYZ
Affair, war appeared very likely. Federalists, aware that French military successes in
Europe had been helped by political traitors in invaded countries, wanted to prevent
such actions in the United States and adopted the Alien and Sedition Acts as part of a
series of military preparedness.
The three alien laws, were aimed at French and Irish immigrants, who were mostly proFrench. These laws raised the waiting period to become a US citizen [naturalization]
from 5 to 14 years, allowed the detention of subjects of an enemy nation, and allowed
the President to expel any alien he considered dangerous. The Sedition Act banned the
publishing of false or malicious (hurtful) writing against the government.
US History, Ms. Brown
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Task
4.32
Name ___________________________
Date: ___________________
Homeroom: __________________
Stop & Jot: Why do you think Congress decided to call foreigners aliens rather
than “non-citizens”?
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The acts were mild compared with later wartime security measures in the United States,
and they were not unpopular in some places. Jeffersonian Republicans vigorously
opposed them, however, as major curtailments of liberty in the Virginia and Kentucky
Resolutions, which argues that states can choose or refuse to follow laws they believe to
be unconstitutional. The other state legislatures either ignored or put this resolution
down as anti-American. Only one alien was deported, but there were 25 prosecutions,
resulting in10 convictions under the Sedition Act. With the war threat passing and the
Republicans winning control of the federal government in 1800, all the Alien and
Sedition Acts expired or were repealed during the next 2 years.
1. Why do you think Americans grew fearful towards the French? Do you think their fear
was justified? Explain.
2. The First Amendment protects our freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Do you
think that the Sedition Act violates our First Amendment rights? Or do you think that
our rights should be limited to protect public safety and national security? Explain.
US History, Ms. Brown
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Task
4.32
Name ___________________________
Date: ___________________
Homeroom: __________________
3. The Kentucky-Virginia Resolution suggests that states can nullify, or overturn federal
laws that they considered unconstitutional. Do you agree with this idea? Explain why
or why not.
US History, Ms. Brown
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4
Task
4.32
Name ___________________________
Date: ___________________
Homeroom: __________________
HOMEWORK
_____/10 Mastered/Passing/Not Mastered
Directions: Use the text to answer each question. Write the paragraph and line number where you
have found the answer.
Question
Answer
Textual Evidence
1. What incident became
known as the XYZ Affair?
2. How did Americans’
attitude, or feelings,
toward immigrants
change?
3. What are the Alien
Acts?
4. What is the Sedition
Act?
5. What are the Virginia
and Kentucky
Resolutions? What
principle did these
resolutions support?
6. . How did this incident
affect John Adams’ chance
of reelection?
US History, Ms. Brown
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5
Task
4.32
US History, Ms. Brown
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6
Task
4.32
Name ___________________________
Date: ___________________
EXIT TICKET
Homeroom: __________________
_____/5 Mastered/Passing/Not Mastered
1. When 3 French agents tried to bribe American delegates this incident became known as
_______________________________________
2. The ____________________________ allowed the President to expel any non US citizen considered
dangerous.
3. Sedition Acts were a limit on which freedom of the First Amendment? _____________________________
4. The XYZ Affair and Alien and Sedition Acts were all part of _____________________________________
US History, Ms. Brown
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7