Washington Foreign Policy - Readings and questions

STATION 1

THE QUESTION OF FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT

Just ten weeks after George Washington’s first inauguration in 1789, a revolution broke out in France.  The revolutionaries were inspired by some of the ideas expressed in the American Declaration of Independence.  They stated their goals in the ringing cry, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.”

Unfortunately, the French Revolution soon became a bloodbath.  The leaders of the new French Republic beheaded thousands of people in the upper classes and nobility with the guillotine- including King Louis XVI and Queen Mary Antoinette.  Over 40 thousand Frenchmen lost their lives at the guillotine during these years.  Abbé Sièyes, when asked what his great accomplishment was during the months of terror, replied simply, "I survived".

It was impossible for the neighboring countries to remain neutral.  Many, particularly the richer classes, were filled with horror.  They feared that the revolution might spread to their own countries.  By 1793, in response to this widely expressed concern, the governments of Great Britain and other European countries went to war with the new French government.

What policy toward this situation should the United States have adopted?  According to a treaty which had been made with the French monarchy in 1778, the U.S. was obliged to defend the French West Indies which in 1791 had been diminished when the black people of one colony, Haiti, most of them slaves, rose up in revolt against the French and succeeded in winning their independence.  But if the U.S. aided France, it would soon find itself at war with Great Britain.  The new nation was not prepared for armed conflict on land or on sea.

STATION 2 

WASHINGTON’S FOREIGN POLICY- A PROCLAMATION OF NEUTRALITY (1793)

As a response to France declaring war on England on February 1, 1793, Washington met with his cabinet members to discuss where America would stand in the conflict:

“Whereas it appears that a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain and the United Netherlands on the one part and France on the other, the duty and interest of the U.S. require that was should remain friendly to both sides.

Therefore, I warn all citizens of the U.S. carefully to avoid all actions which may seem to take sides among warring parties.

And I do hereby make known that anyone who helps the war effort of any of the parties or who provides them with forbidden merchandise will not be protected by the U.S. from punishment.”

STATION 3

Quite possibly...

THE MOST IMPORTANT "GOODBYE" IN AMERICAN HISTORY

         George Washington's Farewell Address was an address by George Washington to the people of the United States at the end of his second (and final) term as President of the United States. It appeared in many American newspapers on September 17, 1796. Technically speaking, it was not an address, but an open letter to the public published in the form of a speech. Washington's fellow Americans gave it the title of "Farewell Address" to recognize it as the President's valedictory to public service for the new Republic.

         There are two themes from the speech which are particularly important. The first describes what Washington sees as rising sectionalism and political factioning in the country. He urges Americans to unite for the good of the whole country.

"In contemplating the causes, which may disturb our Union, it occurs as matter of serious concern, that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties by Geographical discriminations, Northern and Southern, Atlantic and Western"

"[Political parties] serve always to distract the public councils, and weaken the public administration. They agitate the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindle the animosity of one part against another, foment occasionally riot and insurrection."

          The second theme consists of harsh words warning to avoid entanglements with foreign powers, particularly in Europe.

"The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible."

         The Address quickly became a basic political document for the new nation. It was printed in children's primers, engraved on watches, woven into tapestries and read annually before Congress until the mid-1800s. With the widespread notoriety and usage, the speech became a benchmark of sorts, a philosophy on which to judge the two party political structure and certain foreign affairs.

STATION 4

Jay's Treaty

            The Jay Treaty of 1795, named after U.S. Supreme Court chief justice John Jay, was a treaty between the United States and Great Britain signed on November 19, 1794 that attempted to clear up some of the lingering problems of American separation from Great Britain following the American Revolutionary War.

         George Washington, on his second term, decided to concentrate on foreign policy issues. The most pressing issues were with the British, and to deal with them Washington sent the Supreme Court Chief Justice to London to talk with the British leadership. The Americans had a number of issues they wanted dealt with:

   ▪       Britain was still occupying a number of forts on U.S. territory in the Great Lakes region.

   ▪       American merchants wanted compensation for goods and ships confiscated during the War of Independence.

   ▪       Southerners wanted compensation for the slaves the British had taken from them during the revolution.

   ▪       Merchants also wanted the British West Indies reopened to American trade.

         Jay's negotiations with the British were not particularly successful. The British agreed to vacate the western forts, and to compensate American ship owners. In return, the British got most-favored-nation trading status from the Americans. The British refused to give any more concessions, however, unless the United States provided compensation for the vast amounts of Loyalist property seized after the revolution.

         Many Americans were very displeased with this settlement, and there were public protests against Jay and his treaty. One popular cry went:

Damn John Jay! Damn everyone that won't damn John Jay! Damn every one that won't put lights in his window and sit up all night damning John Jay!

         Alexander Hamilton, however, convinced Washington it was the best treaty that could be expected, and Washington agreed to sign it. This action caused Thomas Jefferson, who was inclined to favor France over Britain in international diplomacy, to start forming an active and open opposition group to Hamilton and his Anglophile associates. Jefferson's group began to call themselves "Republicans," later known as the Democratic-Republican Party.

Name:  ___________________________________ Period: ___________

How Did Washington Define the Role of America in the world?  (Foreign Policy)

STATION 1 and 2:  THE QUESTION OF FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT

1.      How did the American Revolution inspire the French Revolution of 1789?

2.     What prompted other countries to go to war with France?

3.     For what reasons was the new nation cautious about aiding the French during this time?  Why might Americans have felt obligated to ally with the French? (Hint- think about when the two countries have been allied before)

4.     How did President Washington handle the war in Europe during his presidency?

STATION 3:  WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL ADDRESS

1.     According to the document, upon leaving office, which precedent did George Washington set for future presidents?

2.     In your own words, why did Washington warn against forming political parties?

3.     How did Washington feel about the United States being involved in the affairs of other nations?

4.     Why do you think Washington allowed for “commercial” but not “political” connections?

5.     How does this document answer the question:  How did George Washington define the role of the “American President”?

STATION 4:  JAY’S TREATY

1.     In general, what issues facing America was Jay’s Treaty designed to address?

2.     Why was it named “Jay’s Treaty”?

3.     Why were Americans particularly unhappy with this treaty?

4.     How did Jay’s Treaty have an influence on the development of political parties in America?