Civil Liberties in Times of Threat:

Historical Perspectives from the Alien and Sedition Acts Through the USA PATRIOT Act.

March 4, 2004

John Harris

I. Background

A. Revolutionary complaints against the empire.

B. Legal Guarantees of Civil Liberties

1. States

2. Federal Government

II. Alien and Sedition Acts of 1978

A. War Fever - The XYZ Affair.

B. "Foreigners"

C. The Sedition Act of July 14, 1798

1. Provisions.

2. Application - politics.

D. Madison, Jefferson and the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798

E. Jefferson as President (1801-1809)

F. Madison as President (1809-1817) - Sedition and the War of 1812

III. The Civil War - Habeas Corpus and Trial by Military Tribunal

A. Article I, Section 9, Clause 2

B. Lincoln and Suspension of the Writ - Ex Parte Merryman

C. Trial by Military Tribunal - Ex Parte Milligan

IV. WWII

A. The Japanese "Evacuation"

B. Challenging the internment Hirabayashi and Korematsu

1. Changing the rulings - Hirabayashi 2 and Korematsu 2

C. Civilians tried by military authorities Duncan v. Kahanamoku

D. Military Tribunals Trying Espionage Agents (U.S. Citizens) Ex Parte Quirin Et Al

V. The "USA PATRIOT ACT" ("Uniting And Strengthening America By Providing Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept And Obstruct Terrorism")

A. Provisions

B. Criticisms

C. Where are the Courts?