Download US Foreign Policy 1775-1811

U.S. Foreign Policy:
1775-1811
Here is my first principle of foreign
policy: good government at home.
-William E. Gladstone
Main Ideas
• Early examples of foreign policy during the
American Revolution and under the Articles of
Confederation
• Foreign policies of Washington, Adams,
Jefferson, and Madison
• The power of “recognition” in foreign
diplomacy
Becoming a Nation
The movement for an independent
foreign policy reached its climax with
the convocation of the Second
Continental Congress in the summer of
1775.
• Ben Franklin wanted the Congress to have
power to make war and peace.
• John Adams called for construction of an
American navy.
• Others wanted to open American ports to
foreign trade.
Becoming a Nation continued…
• The Declaration of Independence
would be the first document of
American foreign policy. It described
the United States’ relationship with
Great Britain.
• To make up for their comparative
weakness in the war, Americans
sought aid from other nations.
• The nation’s first treaty would be
concluded in 1778: The FrancoAmerican (Alliance) Treaty of 1778.
A separate trade treaty with France
was also signed.
Becoming a Nation continued…
• The nation’s third treaty was the Treaty
of Paris of 1783, concluding the war
with Great Britain. In this treaty, the
British recognized United States
independence.
• The weak central government created by
the Articles of Confederation made
negotiation of treaties difficult.
• The Constitution which went into effect
in 1789 gave the president and Congress
important powers to deal with foreign
affairs (see Article I Section 8 and
Article II Sections 2 and 4).
Recognition
• A nation recognizes another nation when it acknowledges
another nation’s independence. A nation that recognizes
another nation enters into formal relations with it. Usually
each of the nations sends an official representative to the other.
• It is very difficult for a new nation to survive without the
official recognition of powerful nations. Without
recognition, it cannot make alliances, trade agreements, or
agreements for economic aid. When one powerful nation
recognizes a new nation, others usually follow.
• These considerations also apply when a government changes
its form of government, as happens during a revolution. The
new government needs to obtain recognition by other nations.
Foreign Policy Under Washington
Washington faced problems:
• U.S. weak militarily
• U.S. geographically separated from
Europe (need a navy)
• Great Britain and France are enemies
• U.S. needed to establish foreign trade
• U.S. needed to remove British troops
from area near the Great Lakes
• U.S. needed to settle financial problems
with other nations (war debt)
Dealing with France
The French Revolution 1789–
1799, was a period of radical
social and political upheaval in
France that had a major impact
on France and throughout the
rest of Europe. The absolute
monarchy that had ruled
France for centuries collapsed
in three years.
• Public opinion was divided on the issue of the French
Revolution.
• When war broke out between Great Britain and France
in 1793, the new French government expected
American aid.
• Direct aid to France would mean war with Great
Britain, which the U.S. could ill afford (weak military,
¾ of trade was with Britain, tariffs were main source of
government revenue).
• Proclamation of Neutrality was issued in 1793.
(“self-interest is the basic cement of alliances”)
• Citizen Genêt (Edmond Genêt) the French minister to
U.S. broke from formal diplomacy and appealed
directly to American public. This outraged Washingtoncalling for his removal
• The U.S. did recognize the new French government.
Dealing with Great Britain
Problems:
* Britain seizing American ships headed for
French ports
* British still occupying forts near the Great
Lakes
Under Jay's Treaty, the British
agreed to leave areas in the
Northwest Territory which they had
been required to return earlier,
under the Treaty of Paris. This
treaty did not, however, oblige the
British to observe American neutral
rights. For the next fifteen years,
the United States benefited from
the treaty greatly.
• John Jay led a delegation to London to negotiate.
• Jay brought back a treaty that was hotly debated
in the U.S.
• Republicans attacked the treaty, while
Federalists defended.
• Jay’s Treaty (1794) was ratified in the Senate
by a vote of 20-10 in 1795.
The Pinckney Treaty (1795)
• Totally unexpected was the effects that the Jay
Treaty had on Spain’s policy toward its territory
in the Americas
Pinckney's diplomatic success with
Spain made him popular at home,
and on his return the Federalist
party made him a candidate in the
1796 presidential election (as the
intended running-mate of John
Adams). While Adams won the
presidential election, complicated
scheming to ensure that Pinckney
would have more presidential votes
than Adams ended up making their
opponent Thomas Jefferson vicepresident
-fear that the U.S. and Britain might be drawing
closer (Spain wanted to consolidate holdings)
-Thomas Pinckney (U.S. minister to Spain)
negotiated treaty in which Spain agreed to open
lower Mississippi River and New Orleans to
trade
-Right of Deposit established: Americans could
transfer cargoes in New Orleans without paying
duties to Spain
-also set the border with Spanish Florida at the 31st
parallel
What had Washington learned?
• In 1796, when Washington was about to leave
office, he outlined the general rules he thought
the nation should follow in foreign policy. He
would write a document which would be known
as Washington’s Farewell Address. Key points
were:
George Washington's Farewell
Address is a letter written by the
first American President, George
Washington, to "The People of the
United States". Washington wrote
the letter near the end of his second
term as President, before his
retirement to his home Mount
Vernon.
* “…extend our commercial relations with foreign nations,
but to have as little political connection with foreign
nations as possible.”
* “Our distance from Europe permits us to pursue a
different course.”
* “It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances
with any foreign nation.”
Also mentioned was a warning to avoid the formation of
political parties and the development of sectionalism
Adams’ Foreign Policy
The fight between USS
Constellation and the
Insurgente (Quasi-War)
• Outraged with Jay’s Treaty, the French
began seizing American ships bound for
Britain.
• Negotiations with France (the XYZ affair)
led to an undeclared war with France.
• Many Federalists demanded a declaration of
war, but Adams resisted.
• Adams continued to negotiate with the
French and in September 1800 an agreement
was reached:
* ended the Franco-American
(Alliance)Treaty of 1778
* France agreed to stop seizing ships
Jefferson’s Foreign Policy
• In the summer of 1801, the U.S. learned
of the retrocession of Louisiana to France.
• Jefferson feared encroachment on U.S.
territory and that U.S. western farmers
might wage war or secede from the
Union.
• Jefferson warned that the day the French
took possession of New Orleans that a
British/U.S. alliance might be possible.
• Before war could erupt, Jefferson sent a
delegation to negotiate with Napoleon to
purchase New Orleans and land to the
east.
Napoleon Bonaparte had gained
Louisiana for French ownership from
Spain in 1800 under the Treaty of San
Ildefonso, after being a Spanish
colony since 1762. But, the treaty
was kept secret. Louisiana remained
nominally under Spanish control until
a transfer of power to France on
November 30, 1803, just three weeks
before the cession to the United
States.
Jefferson’s Foreign Policy continued…
• James Monroe and Robert R.
Livingston traveled to Paris to
negotiate the purchase of New
Orleans in 1802.
• Napoleon offered to sell all of
Louisiana for $15 million. The
treaty was signed in 1803 and
ratified by the Senate. The
transfer occurred at noon on
December 20, 1803.
Ceremony at Place d'Armes, New Orleans
marking transfer of Louisiana to the United States
(formal ceremony after transfer occurred in
December), 10 March 1804, as depicted by Thure
de Thulstrup.
Jefferson’s Foreign Policy continued…
The Lewis and Clark
Expedition was especially
indebted to a Shoshone
woman named Sacajawea,
who served as a guide and
interpreter
• Although the purchase was thought of as unjust
and unconstitutional, Jefferson believed there
was no evidence of unconstitutional actions
taking place during the purchase of what
became fifteen states
• In hindsight, the Louisiana Purchase could be
considered one of Thomas Jefferson’s greatest
contributions to the United States.
• It more than doubled the size of the U.S.,
removed foreign presence from nation’s border,
and guaranteed western expansion beyond the
Mississippi River
• The Lewis and Clack expedition was launched
in 1804 and concluded two years later
Jefferson’s Foreign Policy continued…
Burning of the
frigate Philadelphia
in the harbor of
Tripoli
• In 1801, Jefferson sent 4 warships to
patrol the North African coast and to
bombard Tripoli
• This was in response to demands for
more money from the Pasha of Tripoli
and the cutting down of the flagstaff at
the U.S. Consulate in Tripoli and
declared war.
• American marines would attack the city
in 1805 in an attempt to replace the
current ruler.
• While they took the city, the Pasha was
paid more money and allowed to keep
his throne.
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
HMS Leopard (right) fires upon
the USS Chesapeake
One incident at sea especially
angered Americans
• In 1807, a few miles off the coast of
Virginia, the British warship
Leopard fired on the U.S.S.
Chesapeake
• Three Americans were killed and
four others impressed into the
British navy
• Anti-British feelings ran high,
however Jefferson resorted to
diplomacy and economic pressure
to the crisis
Trying to Stay Neutral
The British HMS Sandwich fires on the
French flagship Bucentaure
(completely dismasted) in the battle of
Trafalgar. The Bucentaure also fights
HMS Victory (behind her) and HMS
Temeraire (left side of the picture). In
fact, HMS Sandwich never fought at
Trafalgar and her depiction is a mistake
by Auguste Mayer, the painter.
• The ongoing British/French war
would pose two specific
problems for the U.S.:
* impressment of sailors by
Britain
* lack of free trade on the sea
• Jefferson tried to protect U.S.
status as a neutral nation by
declaring an embargo in 1807.
He cut off all foreign trade –
imports as well as exports.
Effects of the Embargo
A political cartoon showing merchants
dodging the "Ograbme", which is 'Embargo'
spelled backwards. The embargo was also
ridiculed in the New England press as
Dambargo, Mob-Rage, or Go-bar-'em.
• In Europe:
* caused some economic
hardship in Great Britain where
textile workers lost their jobs
* because France was less
dependent on foreign trade, it
had little effect
• In the United States:
* New Englanders (dependent
on foreign trade) protested
* support was strongest in the
South and West
The Embargo Ends
President Jefferson being held up by
King George and Napoleon, 1809: a
contemporary critique of the Embargo
Act
• Widespread smuggling led Jefferson to
send the navy and 6000 troops to patrol
the American coastline.
• In March 1809, the Congress repealed
the act and passed a new law that
allowed trade with all nations except
Great Britain and France.
• Jefferson reluctantly signed the new law.
It was known as the Non-Intercourse
Act.
• Despite hurting the economy as a whole,
the bill did help America begin to
industrialize as no British manufactured
goods could be imported and had to be
instead produced domestically
Madison Foreign Policy Blunders
James Madison
engraving by David
Edwin from between
1809 and 1817
• American ships did not always obey
the Non-Intercourse Act.
• Congress passed Macon’s Bill No. 2
in May 1810. It allowed the
President to reopen trade immediately
with both Britain and France.
• In the event that either of the two
warring powers modified its trade
policies toward the U.S. before
March 1811, the President might reimpose the trade prohibition upon the
other.
Madison Blunders continued…
•
•
•
Napoleon instructed his foreign minister to inform the U.S.
that France would revoke their decrees if the U.S. would
invoke non-intercourse with Britain.
Madison acted before checking:
(1) He reopened trade with France and declared trade with
Britain closed in February 1811 unless the British revoked
their Orders in Council.
(2)The British replied by stationing warships outside New
York harbor and impressing American seamen. Neither side
wanted war, yet one would come the following year (War of
1812)
Vessels that eluded British capture were confiscated by
Napoleon as soon as they reached France. (Napoleon’s
Deception)
Timeline
•
•
•
•
•
•
1793- Proclamation of Neutrality was issued
1794- Jay’s Treaty
1795- The Pinckney Treaty
1796- Washington’s Farewell Address
1803- Louisiana Purchase
1807- Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
- Embargo Act
• 1809- Non Intercourse Act
• 1810- Macon’s Bill No. 2
• 1812- War of 1812
Key Names, Events, and Terms
• The Franco-American (Alliance)
Treaty of 1778
• Treaty of Paris of 1783
• Tariffs, excise tax
• Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)
• “Citizen” Edmond Genêt
• Jay Treaty (1794)
• Pinckney Treaty (1795)
• Right of deposit
• Whisky Rebellion
• Washington’s farewell address
• John Adams
• XYZ Affair
• Thomas Jefferson
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Louisiana Purchase
Napoleon Bonoparte
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Barbary Coast Pirates
Impressment
Chesapeake-Leopard affair
Embargo Act (1807)
James Madison
Nonintercourse Act (1809)
Macon’s Bill No. 2 (1810)
Question
Which of the following was the underlying cause
of the other four?
(a) the Jay Treaty
(b)the French Revolution
(c) the XYZ Affair
(d) Citizen Genêt controversy
(e) Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality
Answer
B: the French Revolution
Additional Question
Which of the following accurately characterizes the
foreign policy goals of Jefferson and Madison before
1812?
(a) strengthen U.S. trade relations with Britain and
France
(b) maintain U.S. neutral rights without going to war
(c) seek alliances with either Britain or France
(d) explore various means for acquiring Canada
(e) provide aid to independence movements in Latin
America
Answer
B: maintain U.S. neutral rights without going to
war