11. Alexander Hamilton and the Entire Federalist Party were accused of attempting to institute a dictatorial American monarchy
Although serving for two terms as George Washington’s deputy, following election in 1796 as the 2nd President of the United States John Adams instituted a series of radical and unpopular policies tending towards authoritarianism. Most notably the Alien and Sedition Acts, signed into law in 1798, these four laws granted the government broad powers to impose what it argued were necessary conditions for law and order in a disorderly time. Fearing chaos and insecurity with the ongoing Quasi-War with France, the acts, among other powers, enabled the imprisonment and deportation of non-citizens as well as criminalizing criticism of the federal government.
Denounced by the Democratic-Republicans, and mostly reversed following their electoral victory four years later, the series of acts was broadly condemned for revealing the true motivations of the Federalist Party. Combined with Adams’ previous writings, including suggestions that “hereditary monarchy or aristocracy [are the] only institutions that can possibly preserve the laws” as well as warnings against unbridled democracy, following inauguration as Vice President Adams even designed a system of government employing a hereditary legislature and a nationally appointed president for life. All things considered fairly, perhaps the theory Adams and his followers were secretly fascists is not an entirely inaccurate assessment.