1798- Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

In reaction to the Alien and Sedition Acts, Thomas Jefferson wrote a series of resolutions, which were adopted by the legislature of Kentucky. The resolutions stated that, since the federal government had been created by the states; the states had the right to declare any federal laws invalid. James Madison wrote a similar set of resolutions, which were passed by the legislature of Virginia. These resolution became important in the debate over states' rights.