Facilitator Prep Sheet: The Sedition Act

--Who is writing?
Federalists in the United States Congress are writing.

--Who is the audience?
The intended audience is the French. But, of course, Americans are deliberately listening to what this document says as well.

--Who do the writers represent?
The writers represent the ideals of the federalists in America. The writers definitely do not represent the Republicans of America, who were opposed to the Sedition Act.

--What is being said, argued and/or requested?
The Federalists in Congress state that anyone involved in a movement that conspires to confront the government will be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor. Further, it states that upon conviction of this misdemeanor, he/she will be fined five thousand dollars or less and will be imprisoned no less than six months and not to exceed five years. Also, the Federalists state that, “if any person shall write, print, utter or publish” anything that confronts the government of the United States, they will be convicted and punished by a fine of two thousand dollars or less and imprisoned no less than two years.

--How is it being said, argued and/or requested?
The tone of this document is purely authoritative. The document is simply a list of statements or policies to be enforced. There is no argument or request, the document is a list of statements.

--What proof and/or justification is being used to legitimize the request?
In reality, there is no substantial justification provided in the document. The document doesn’t contain any persuasion through justification. The Federalists were just stating enforced policies. Through describing acts and specifying punishment as consequences for those acts, the Federalists signified that acts of movement or speech confronting government were unjustified. As a result, on these terms, the Federalists were able to justify punishing people who confronted the government.