120 likes | 187 Views
Assets Great Moral Character Man of virtue Leadership skills Charismatic Gentleman Impartial and Unbiased No self-interest Flair for the dramatic. Liabilities No formal education Not a military genius Sensitive to criticism Volatile temper Cold, unemotional Detailed/Control Freak
E N D
Assets Great Moral Character Man of virtue Leadership skills Charismatic Gentleman Impartial and Unbiased No self-interest Flair for the dramatic Liabilities No formal education Not a military genius Sensitive to criticism Volatile temper Cold, unemotional Detailed/Control Freak Averse to fame—vanity? George Washington Balance Sheet
Analysis of Washington Exceptional leader --Deferred to his assistants (TJ v AH) --Visionary who helped form the new republic 2. Precedent of the President --Dominance of the Executive Branch in Foreign Affairs (Jay’s Treaty)
Minority factions can protest peacefully, but cannot take up arms (Whisky Rebellion) • Idea of national independence and a warning against political factionalism • (Farewell Address)
Foreign Policy • Survival (1783-1814) • Existence of America was in Jeopardy • 9 elements of National Power • in 1792, the United States had 0 • Military Capacity --600 man army, Navy of 3 ships • National Morale --country divided on the constitution and political party
Events • Northwest Indian War • 1791—”Bloodiest American Battle”, General Arthur St. Clair, 700 Americans killed • 1794—”Mad” Anthony Wayne and the Battle of Fallen Timbers • 1795—Treaty of Greenville
Relations with France • Neutrality Proclamation (1793) • Washington says we are going to stay out of Europe’s Wars • Demonstrated tensions between TJ and AH • Withdrawal from the Franco-American Alliance • Alliance signed in 1778 to provide for help with Revolutionary War • Was to last 20 years, lasted 15
Relations with Great Britain • Seizure of ships by the British • Jay’s Treaty (1794)—Britain leave the Forts in the NW, we pay back our debts, very unpopular
Relations with Spain • Pinckney Treaty (1795)—port of N.O. • Ended the Florida border dispute • Opened the port of N.O. to American Ships
Washington’s Farewell Address • Spirit of the address was directed at creating an independent nation with a distinctively American and republican character • Take the middle ground in American politics and foreign policy (no factions and neutrality)
“Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.” • Misinterpreted that he was preachingIsolation • Young nation needed time to mature • It was in our national interest to allow this to happen
Isolationist view reflected in the U.S. being a reactive nation: • Mexican-American War? • Spanish-American War? • World War I? • World War II? • Korean War? • Vietnam War? • Afghanistan? • Iraq? • North Africa?