Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
1798
What are the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions?
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison have recently written the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions, primarily in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts. These acts stated that no person shall have the right to criticize the president, and gave the federal government the power to deport foreigners. Jefferson and Madison, along with the legislation of Virginia and Kentucky, felt that theses laws were unconstitutional and therefore should be allowed to be nullified. The Virginia and Kentucky resolutions puts the Democratic-Republicans, Madison and Jefferson, against the Federalist president, John Adams.
What will come from this?
These resolutions, although they protect states rights, put further emphasis on the problem of nullification. The underlying principles of the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions seems influence the idea of Southern Session.