Foreign Relations Under GW

SassoUS I

The Native Americans

First “foreign” issue may actually be a domestic one

US settlers begin moving out into Western territories at a quick pace

Native Americans will naturally want to defend their new territories

Get a lot of encouragement from both the English and Spanish

Other nations have little regard for the new US govt; Why should Natives?

The Native Americans

Certain tribes south of the Ohio River will come to peaceful settlements with the US, like the Cherokee, Chickamauga, and Creek

This allows areas like Kentucky (1792)and Tennessee (1796) to be settled

The tribes of the Northwest will not be nearly as peaceful

Battles between the Natives and Americans will rage well into the next century

True Foreign Relations

GW’s presidency is very difficult

Never easy to go first; there’s no model to fall back on

He becomes the standard bearer for all future office holders

He will be placed in some very difficult situations

Foreign Relations Within a few months of GW’s

inauguration the French Revolution will break out

It’s a very popular event amongst American citizens

The support of the French is coupled with a continuing resentment of England

The general expectation is that the U.S. will participate in some way

BUT- which side would the U.S. participate on- the French govt. or the French rebels?

Foreign Relations

Getting involved in the French Rev would be a bad idea

We are not in a position to help out physically or financially

GW will keep the US out of it

This will not sit very well with France (govt. or rebels) or with many American citizens

Foreign Relations

Civil war is not France's only issue It’s also dealing with some major

problems with the English (as usual) England and France will go to war in

1793 (as usual) This conflict will put the U.S. in a very

difficult and unpleasant spot Both England and France will look to the

U.S. to shift the balance of power in their respective favors

Wh

at o

ptio

ns d

o w

e

have?

Sid

e w

ith F

ran

ceS

ide w

ith E

ng

lan

d

France will expect help from the US They gave us a ton of assistance during the

American Revolution Money Troops Navy They aren’t even asking for that much into return;

just want the use of ports and some troops In many ways, the U.S. owes France

Wouldn’t necessarily be “siding” with England

In terms of politics, we are still anti-England

However, ¾ of our trade is with England

Most of our taxes are collected off of English products

England’s navy could shut down our trade

GW’s decision

GW will issue a Proclamation of Neutrality All cabinet members will agree (although TJ is

not happy with the decision) Another instance where the final decision comes

down to a Hamilton-Jefferson argument (TJ- generally pro-French, AH- generally pro-England)

GW- “The United States will be friendly and impartial”

Warns that Americans helping either side would be denied the protection and security of the U.S. government

Issues This is not well received by

the American people Most people find the decision

hypocritical GW’s decision gets coupled

with the arrival of Frenchman Edmund Genet

Genet arrives under the premise of recruiting troops

His backstory is a little cloudy Genet is very popular with

the American people, but not so well received by the govt.

His actions nearly endanger the concept of neutrality

Issues

England will push the limits on neutrality After war breaks out, they issue a series of

orders preventing “neutral” ships from trading in the West Indies, and/or carrying weapons and resources to France

That is a major area for U.S. trade England will begin seizing US trade vessels Very aggressive and a big time

provocation/instigation of war Hamilton will beg Washington for peace efforts

and an avoidance of war

Jay Treaty GW is willing to consider peace

and John Jay will be sent to England

Objective: payment for assaulted US ships, withdrawal of British troops, end Indian aid, secure commercial treaty

Hamilton cripples Jay’s leverage When the Jay Treaty is complete it

really doesn’t address any of the U.S. concerns

Ultimately the treaty provides for England evacuating it’s forts (again), and limited US trade

However- it keeps the U.S. out of war

The treaty is not well received at home

Pinckney’s Treaty Spain will be upset with the

Jay Treaty as well Treaty was so one-sided in

favor of England, Spain thought there must have been a side deal cut

Thomas Pinckney will be sent to deal with some longstanding issues between the U.S. and Spain

This treaty works out well for the U.S.

We receive free navigation of the MS River, right of deposit in New Orleans, and the US idea of Florida’s boundaries

GW’s Farewell By the end of his second term,

Washington was ready to pack it in

He actually was ready to retire after his first term, but was convinced by Jefferson and Hamilton to stay on

Had become very sensitive to criticism, and was criticized a lot

GW had lost a lot of Jefferson’s support; TJ actually resigned from the cabinet in 1793

Before stepping away, Washington drafted a farewell address

Key points: stay out of foreign affairs, avoid political parties