Creating a Foreign Policy

1. Creating a Foreign Policy

2. Responses to the French Revolution • Late in 1789, French ships arrived in American ports with startling news. On July 14, an angry mob in Paris had destroyed the Bastille, an ancient fort that was used as a prison. • The French Revolution would break out a few years after America had won it’s independence, and like the Americans the French fought for liberty and equality. As the French Revolution grew more violent, it deepened political divisions within the United States. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXsZbkt0yqo

3. At first, most Americans supported the French Revolution because they knew what it meant to struggle for liberty. Also, America admired the French because they had served as our first ally in our war for independence. • In 1793, however, the French Revolution turned more and more violent as radical reformers gained power. These violent reformers beheaded the King and Queen, and tens of thousands of ordinary French citizens were executed in this reign of terror. • The violence in France divided the Americans, the main disagreement was whether to be loyal to our allies, or to condemn “democracy through violence.”

4. The United States Remains Neutral • Faced with war in Europe, President Washington had to decide on a foreign policy (foreign policy is the action or sets of actions a nation takes in relation to other nations). • During the Rev. America and France signed treaties that made us allies, now the French wanted to use American ports to supply their ships and launch attacks on British ships. Washington worried that the U.S. could not honor the treaty to France and still remain neutral. • After much debate, Washington issued the “Neutrality Proclamation of 1793.” It stated that the U.S. would not support either side in the war and forbade Americans from aiding either side.

5. The Proclamation of Neutrality 1793 Whereas it appears that a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands, of the one part, and France on the other; and the duty and interest of the United States require, that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent Powers; I have therefore thought fit by these presents to declare the disposition of the United States to observe the conduct aforesaid towards those Powers respectfully; and to exhort and warn the citizens of the United States carefully to avoid all acts and proceedings whatsoever, which may in any manner tend to contravene such disposition. And I do hereby also make known, that whatsoever of the citizens of the United States shall render himself liable to punishment or forfeiture under the law of nations, by committing, aiding, or abetting hostilities against any of the said Powers, or by carrying to any of them those articles which are deemed contraband by the modern usage of nations, will not receive the protection of the United States, against such punishment or forfeiture; and further, that I have given instructions to those officers, to whom it belongs, to cause prosecutions to be instituted against all persons, who shall, within the cognizance of the courts of the United States, violate the law of nations, with respect to the Powers at war, or any of them. In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. Done at the city of Philadelphia, the twenty-second day of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the seventeenth. George Washington April 22, 1793

6. Struggling to Remain Neutral • Declaring neutrality was easier than enforcing it. Americans wanted to trade with both Britain and France, however, those warring nations would capture American ships as they entered their ports. • In 1793, the British captured more than 250 American ships trading in the French West Indies. Some Americans called for war, but Washington sent Chief Justice John Jay to talk to the British. • Jay negotiated an agreement that called for Britain to pay damages for the seized American ships, and that Britain would give up their western forts still held in the west. In exchange, Americans would pay the debts they owed to British merchants. This became known as Jay’s Treaty.

7. Washington’s Farewell Address • Washington begins his warnings to the American people by trying to convince them that their independence, peace at home and abroad, safety, prosperity, and liberty are all dependent upon the unity between the states.  • Washington reminds the people that although it is the right of the people to alter government to meet their needs, it should only be done through constitutional amendments. • Washington expands his warning to include the dangers of political parties to the government and country as a whole. 

8. Washington provides strong support for a balanced federal budget, arguing that the nation's credit is an important source of strength and security. • Washington addresses the dangers of permanent alliances between the United States and foreign nations • Washington closes his letter to the American people by asking them to forgive any of his failures during his service to the country, assuring them that they were due to his own weaknesses and by no means intentional.

9. Did We Listen To Washington? • Unity between the states? (Bloody Civil War, Pervading racism until the 1970’s) • Only altering gov’t by amendments? (Numerous executive actions and special actions by the President and Congress as well as “Judicial Activism” have negated the power of the Amendment process. • Dangers of Political Parties? (If you turn on Fox or CNN you see one party bashing the other every day). • Balanced budget? ($16 Trillion in debt…) • Foreign entanglements???