The Federalists reasoned that unless special laws were passed. which would protect the new Republic from the attacks of its enemies in the press and by oral debate. that the new Republic could not withstand the assault of its critics. However. they were very wrong. They passed the Naturalization Act which increased the period of residence necessary for naturalization from 5 to 14 years. They passed the Enemy Alien Act. authorizing the President at his discretion to arrest. imprison. or banish. enemy aliens. The Enemy Alien Act gave the President the power to expel from the country any alien whom he regarded as dangerous to public peace or safety or whom he believed to be plotting against the Government.
Keywords matched
Naturalization naturalization