
Third in a series of panels on early American history. Origins of the American Revolution appeared in 1943. Triumph of Freedom in 1948, both lively recording of history, staunchly rooted in sound scholarship & amply documented. Now comes this--a study of the Alien & Sedition Acts, in which the newly won American freedom survived severe test, back in 1798. Many of the issues have an oddly contemporary feeling, the witch-hunts, the fear of foreign influence, the use of opposing parties, as the Republicans (the new young party) struck out against the Federalists. The French Revolution was a fearful threat. The fear of Jacobinism was a very real one. An important phase-- one that passed for lack of fuel--this is a new angle in our history.--Kirkus (edited)