“The French Revolution and the Limits of Liberty” https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-ushistory1ay/chapter/the-french-revolution-and-the-limits-of-liberty/Links to an external site.

Now answer these questions based on the reading in the link–be sure to write in essay form as described above.

• How did Americans feel about the French Revolution when it first began? 
• What did the following do to cause some Americans to change their mind about the French Revolution: 
• Citizen Genet’s actions; the Reign of Terror; the XYZ Affair.   
• The United States was already divided into two political factions (early political parties)–the Federalists headed by Hamilton and Adams and the Republicans headed by Jefferson and Madison.  How did each of these factions feel about the French Revolution?
• What caused Congress to pass the Alien and Sedition Acts? 
• Briefly summarize what the Alien Acts did; briefly summarize what the Sedition Act did.  Which of the political factions (Federalists or Republicans) seems to have been the most negatively affected (hurt or hindered) by the Sedition Act? 
• How did Jefferson and Madison protest the Alien and Sedition Acts?

Read the First Amendment to the Constitution (below) and include answers to the questions that follow as part of your Reading Essay:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

• Do you believe that the Sedition Act violated the First Amendment?  Defend your answer. 
• Suppose the Sedition Act were in effect today.  How would it affect candidates who were running for office?  How would it affect the media (newspapers, television, Social Media)? 
• What branch of government (Executive, Legislative or Judicial) ultimately makes the decision over whether a law violates the First Amendment? 
• Do the American people have any control over who makes the decision whether a law violates the First Amendment?  (you can use anything in answering the last two questions)