The Articles of Confederation were ratified by all thirteen states on March 1, 1781 (The Articles of Confederation). From Article Two: “Each State retains its sovereignty, liberty, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, not expressly delegated by this confederation to the United States, assembled in Congress.” (Transcript of the Articles of Confederation) The purpose of these Articles was to keep government limited and to give the states more power and rights. Born out of the experience with Great Britain, which seemed to be a good idea, the articles failed only a few years later. There was too much state authority and Congress was too weak, resulting in an inability to pass any laws. Congress, under President John Adams, passed the Alien and Sedition Acts more than ten years later. The laws increased the requirement of American citizenship from five to fourteen years. Furthermore, the President also had the authority to deport or imprison aliens who "...as he shall judge to be dangerous to the peace and security of the United States, or shall have reasonable grounds to suspect, are engaged in any treasonous or secret machinations against the his government…” (Transcript of the Acts of Alienation and Sedition). Just a few decades earlier, the nation desired equality for all, but these acts went against the ideas of Jefferson, Paine and Locke