What prompted the passage of the virginia and kentucky road resolutions?

These Resolves were passed in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts. The states felt that this was an unconstitutional use of Federal authority and were arguing for states' rights as a way of nullifying laws. This was one of the major articles that was used in the years leading up to the Civil War as a form of evidence for disobeying laws that were seen as unjust.