Download Jay`s Treaty This treaty, known officially as the "Treaty of Amity

American Studies
Mr. Carlson
Jay’s Treaty
This treaty, known officially as the "Treaty of Amity Commerce and Navigation, between His
Britannic Majesty; and The United States of America" attempted to diffuse the tensions between
England and the United States that had risen to renewed heights since the end of the Revolutionary War.
The U.S. government objected to English military posts along America's northern and western borders
and Britain's violation of American neutrality. By 1794 the Royal Navy had seized more than 250
American ships in the West Indies during England's war with France. President Washington sent
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay to England with instructions to negotiate a solution to these
issues. The outcome of those negotiations became known to the American people as Jay’s Treaty and
was signed by Britain's King George III on November 19, 1794 in London.
The agreement called for Britain to pay damages for seized American ships and they agreed to
give up the British forts still held in the Western territories. In exchange, Americans had to pay debts
that had been owed to British merchants since the Revolutionary War. Many Americans were angry that
Jay’s Treaty did nothing to protect the rights of neutral American ships because Britain never agreed to
stop seizing them. Even before Jay returned to America, angry rumors circulated speculating that the
treaty he negotiated favored the British at the expense of American interests. After Jay returned home
with news of the treaty's signing, Washington, now in his second term, encountered fierce Congressional
opposition to the treaty; by 1795, its ratification was uncertain.
Leading the opposition to the treaty were two future presidents: Thomas Jefferson and James
Madison. At the time, Jefferson was in between political positions: he had just completed a term as
Washington's secretary of state from 1789 to 1793 and had not yet become John Adams' vice president.
Fellow Virginian James Madison was a member of the House of Representatives. Jefferson, Madison
and other opponents feared the treaty gave too many compromises to the British. They argued that Jay's
negotiations actually weakened American trade rights and complained that it promised the U.S. would
repay pre-revolutionary debts to English merchants. Washington himself was not completely satisfied
with the treaty, but considered preventing another war Britain a more important priority.
Following two months of bitter debate, the treaty was approved by Congress on August 14, 1795,
with exactly the two-thirds majority it needed to pass. When one senator leaked the still-secret
agreement to the press, angry mobs accused senators of signing a "death warrant to America’s liberties."
Those in the Senate who had voted against the treaty became heroes. Washington signed the treaty four
days later. Washington and Jay may have won the legislative battle and averted war temporarily, but the
conflict at home showed growing division between those with different political beliefs in Washington,
D.C. This split helped define America’s first political parties—the Federalists, who approved the treaty,
and the Jeffersonian Republicans, who disapproved. Jefferson and Madison were suspicious of
Washington for wanting friendly relations with England instead of helping France, who wanted the U.S.
as a partner in their war against England.
American Studies
Mr. Carlson
The Embargo Act of 1807
In 1803, England and France went to war again. This war lasted for years and caused a great
deal of trouble for the United States.
Both France and England wanted to prevent ships from carrying supplies to the other. United
States ships were stopped and searched. The English also impressed American sailors
claiming them as deserters from the British navy (which some were). These sailors were then
taken off American ships and forced to fight in the British navy. Many Americans viewed these
actions as a direct insult to the United States. The British had no right to board neutral
American ships without permission from the government. Many people in the U.S. felt that war
should be declared against England.
Jefferson did not want war. He had a simple solution to the problem of impressment. He
believed one way to stay out of war was to keep our ships off the ocean. The British could not
seize American ships and sailors if they were safely home in port.
In 1807, Jefferson helped pass a law that declared an embargo on trade with foreign countries.
American ships were banned from sailing to any foreign port. Ships of other nations were not
allowed to enter American ports. This law was called the Embargo Act. Jefferson hoped that
the lack of American supplies might force England and France to make peace. At the least, he
hoped that they might agree to stop interfering with American ships.
The Embargo Act was a failure. It did not stop the war. Instead, England and France found
other sources for the goods they needed. The Embargo Act caused problems in the United
States. It hurt the business of merchants in the Northeast. Many turned to smuggling to keep
avoid ruin. It caused unemployment to rise, as sailors, ship builders and other workers lost
their jobs. The loss of foreign markets for crops hurt farmers, too.
The Embargo Act was ended in 1809, the same year Jefferson left office. It would be up to the
next President to solve the problem of impressment.
American Studies
Mr. Carlson
Name ___________________________________ Period _____
Jay's Treaty
1. What did Jay's Treaty try to resolve? Who negotiated the treaty?
2. As a result of this treaty, what did the British agree to do? What did Americans agree to do?
3. How did Congress react to the treaty? Who supported it?
4. Who was against it and why?
5. What was the public opinion of this treaty? What does this conflict show us about the divisions
that were starting to form in American politics?
American Studies
Mr. Carlson
The Embargo Act
6. What was impressment and why was it happening? How did Americans react to it?
7. What did Jefferson hope to accomplish with the Embargo Act of 1807?
8. Was the Embargo Act a success? Why or why not?
9. Explain whether or not the Embargo Act goes along with or violates the Republican principles
of Jefferson and his political party.