<P> After an American delegation was insulted in Paris in the XYZ affair (1797), public opinion ran strongly against the French . An undeclared "Quasi-War" with France from 1798 to 1800, saw each side attacking and capturing the other's shipping . It was called "quasi" because there was no declaration of war, but escalation was a serious threat . The Federalists, at the peak of their popularity, took advantage by preparing for an invasion by the French Army . To silence Administration critics, the Federalists passed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798 . The Alien Act empowered the President to deport such aliens as he declared to be dangerous . The Sedition Act made it a crime to print false, scandalous, and malicious criticisms of the federal government, but it conspicuously failed to criminalize criticism of Vice President Thomas Jefferson . </P> <P> Several Republican newspaper editors were convicted under the Act and fined or jailed, and three Democratic - Republican newspapers were shut down . In response Jefferson and Madison secretly wrote the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions passed by the two states' legislatures, that declared the Alien and Sedition Acts unconstitutional, and insisted the states had the power to nullify federal laws . </P> <P> Undaunted, the Federalists created a navy, with new frigates, and a large new army, with Washington in nominal command and Hamilton in actual command . To pay for it all they raised taxes on land, houses and slaves, leading to serious unrest . In one part of Pennsylvania the Fries' Rebellion broke out, with people refusing to pay the new taxes . John Fries was sentenced to death for treason, but received a pardon from Adams . In the elections of 1798 the Federalists did very well, but this issue started hurting the Federalists in 1799 . </P> <P> Early in 1799, Adams decided to free himself from Hamilton's overbearing influence, stunning the country and throwing his party into disarray by announcing a new peace mission to France . The mission eventually succeeded, the "Quasi-War" ended, and the new army was largely disbanded . Hamiltonians called Adams a failure, while Adams fired Hamilton's supporters still in the cabinet . </P>

Who were a group that opposed a new strong form of national government