George Washington's Foreign Policy

Summary

This lesson on George Washington's foreign policy explores the challenges faced by the new U.S. government in navigating its relationships with France and Britain. Key events include Washington's decision for neutrality, the Citizen Genêt Affair, and the controversial Jay's Treaty with Britain. Washington's foreign policy aimed to maintain peace while dealing with European conflicts and Native American resistance. The Treaty of Greenville further shaped American territorial expansion. The lesson provides insights into the complexities of early U.S. diplomacy and the political tensions between Federalists and Republicans.

Takeaways

• 😀 Washington's foreign policy aimed to keep the United States neutral between France and Britain during their conflicts.
• 😀 Jefferson supported the French Revolution due to his belief in republican ideals but struggled with the violence and chaos it caused.
• 😀 Federalists, led by Hamilton, were wary of the French Revolution, fearing its instability and violence.
• 😀 The Citizen Genêt Affair created a scandal when the French envoy encouraged Americans to take up arms against Britain, violating diplomatic norms.
• 😀 Washington demanded the recall of Citizen Genêt after his controversial actions, leading to a diplomatic crisis.
• 😀 Jay's Treaty was negotiated to resolve ongoing conflicts with Britain, but it failed to address issues like impressment of American sailors.
• 😀 Despite its unpopularity, Jay's Treaty was ratified by a narrow margin in the Senate, causing protests from many Americans.
• 😀 The Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794 resulted in a U.S. victory, leading to the Treaty of Greenville, where Native Americans ceded large portions of land.
• 😀 The Treaty of Greenville marked a significant loss for Native Americans and established U.S. control over much of the modern Midwest.
• 😀 Washington's foreign policy decisions, including neutrality and treaty negotiations, shaped the nation's early diplomatic relations and set precedents for future actions.

Q & A

What event sparked the French Revolution, which Washington's foreign policy had to address?

The French Revolution was sparked by the uprising against King Louis XVI, which put France at war with many of its neighbors. This event was central to Washington's foreign policy as the U.S. had to decide how to respond to France's conflict with other European powers.

How did Thomas Jefferson view the French Revolution, and how did it influence his stance on foreign policy?

Thomas Jefferson supported the French Revolution, favoring the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic. His stance was influenced by his belief in republican ideals, though he was later disturbed by the mob violence in France.

What was the Citizen Genêt Affair, and how did it impact American relations with France?

The Citizen Genêt Affair involved a French diplomat, Citizen Genêt, who attempted to rally American citizens to fight against Britain and Spain, violating diplomatic protocols. This scandal led to widespread American distrust of France, forcing Washington to call for Genêt's recall.

What was Washington's official stance regarding the conflict between France and its European enemies?

Washington adopted a policy of neutrality, aiming to maintain friendly relations with both France and its European enemies, despite the internal political pressures within the U.S.

How did Alexander Hamilton's views differ from those of Thomas Jefferson regarding foreign policy?

Hamilton, a Federalist, preferred aligning with Britain, valuing their strong, stable government. In contrast, Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, sympathized with France, though he was wary of the violent aspects of the revolution.

What was Jay's Treaty, and why was it unpopular in the United States?

Jay's Treaty, negotiated by Chief Justice John Jay, resolved some issues with Britain, such as the evacuation of British forts in the west, but it failed to stop British harassment of American ships or the impressment of American sailors. It was unpopular because it did not address these critical issues and was seen as overly conciliatory to Britain.

What was the significance of the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794?

The Battle of Fallen Timbers was a decisive conflict between American forces led by General Anthony Wayne and Native American tribes allied with the British. The victory led to the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, where Native Americans ceded large portions of the Midwest to the U.S.

What did the Treaty of Paris, signed at the end of the Revolutionary War, require Britain to do, and how did they fail to comply?

The Treaty of Paris required Britain to evacuate its forts in the western territories, but they failed to do so, continuing to occupy these forts and support Native American resistance against American expansion.

How did British actions in the Northwest Territory affect U.S. settlers?

The British in the Northwest Territory encouraged Native American tribes to resist American settlers, supplying them with arms and support, which led to violent conflicts and difficulties for U.S. expansion in the region.

Why did John Jay face intense backlash after negotiating the treaty with Britain?

John Jay faced intense backlash because the treaty failed to resolve the most pressing issues, such as British interference with American shipping, and it was seen as too favorable to British interests. Protesters even burned effigies of him across the country.