Why did the us congress pass the alien and sedition acts of 1798

The Federalists believed that Democratic-Republican criticism of Federalist policies was disloyal and feared that aliens living in the United States would sympathize with the French during a war. As a result, a Federalist-controlled Congress passed four laws, known collectively as the Alien and Sedition Acts.

The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 passed by President Adams were passed in preparation for a war with France. This act increased the residency requirement for American citizens from 5 years to 14 years and required immigrants to declare their intent to obtain citizenship 5 years before it could be granted. This rendered people from enemy nations ineligible for naturalization.