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

Becomes the standard bearer

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 deep hate for England

Expectation is that we will participate in some way on behalf of the French

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, or with many American citizens

Foreign Relations

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

problems with the English England and France will go to war in

1793 This is going to put us in a very

difficult spot

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

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

return; just want the use of ports and some troops

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 (though TJ

is not happy) Really comes down to Hamilton-Jefferson

again (TJ- in favor of French, AH- England) GW- “The United States will be friendly

and impartial” Warns that Americans helping either side

would be denied the protection of the government

Issues

This is not well received by the American people

GW’s decision gets coupled with the arrival of Frenchman Edmund Genet

He is here under the premise of recruiting troops

He 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 test us out as well After war breaks out, they issue a series of

orders preventing neutral ships from trading in the West Indies, or carrying weapons/food to France

That’s a big part of our trade England begins seizing US trade vessels That’s pretty aggressive; big time

provocation/instigation Hamilton will plead for peace efforts

Jay Treaty John Jay will be sent to

England Objective: payment for

assaulted US ships, withdrawal of British troops, end Indian aid, secure commercial treaty

Hamilton actually hosed him on this one

Treaty is not favorable, but it avoids a war

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

Not well received at home

Pinckney’s Treaty

Spain will be upset with the Jay Treaty as well

Thought there may have been a side deal cut

Thomas Pinckney will be sent to deal with some longstanding issues between the two nations

This works out well 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, GW had had enough

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

Lost some of TJ’s support; TJ resigned from the cabinet in 1793

Address- stay out of foreign affairs, avoid political parties