Creating a Foreign Policy

FRENCH REVOLUTION, 1789. The Storming of the Bastille, 14 July 1789.

George Washington taking leave of his officers at Fraunces' Tavern, New York City, 1783.

Creating a Foreign Policy

• Under the Treaty of Paris in 1783, Britain agreed to leave their forts in the Northwest Territory. However, by the 1790s, Britain still had forts in the (1) Ohio Valley.

• With support from Britian, three Native American tribes, the (2) Miami, Shawnee, and Delaware formed an alliance to resist the takeover of their lands.

Dealing with the Natives• In 1794, General Anthony Wayne

finally crushed the Native American resistance at the (3) Battle of Fallen Timbers.

• In the (4) Treaty of Greenville, Native Americans agreed to surrender most of the land in present-day Ohio.

Conflicts at home and abroad

• America and (5) Spain argued over the right to use the Mississippi River and port of New Orleans for trade.

• Americans trading abroad faced pirates from the Barbary Coast of North Africa. America had to pay pirates tribute (protection money) so that they could (6) sail safely around these waters.

Creating a Foreign Policy• Late in 1789, French Ships arrived with

terrible news. On July 14, a mob in Paris, France, had destroyed the Bastille , a huge fort that was used as a prison.

The attack on Bastille July 14, 1789 was the start of the French Revolution

Like the Americans the French fought for independence (liberty and equality.)

• At First, most Americans supported the French Revolution. They knew what it was to struggle for liberty.

• France was America’s first ally in their war against Great Britain.

However the Revolution turned more and more violent.

The execution of King Louis of France on 21 January 1793

7

The Guillotine

A guillotine was used for most executions

The execution of Marie Antoinette in Paris, 16 October 1793.

France Calls for Aid• In 1793, the new revolutionary

government in France found itself at war with Britain and other nations. France now called for the United States to abide by the (7) Treaty of Alliance of 1778.

Franklin receives a copy of the Treaty of Alliance in June 1778 from King Louis XVI

The violence in France divided Americans.

• Thomas Jefferson condemned the execution of the king and queen of France. However, he felt the French people had the right to use violence to win independence and continued to support the French.

Queen of France, The execution of Marie Antoinette in Paris, 16 October 1793.

Thomas Jefferson

Others Disagree

• Hamilton, John Adams and other - Democracy can not be created through widespread violence.

John Adams said: “Than a snowball can exist in the streets of Philadelphia under a burning sun.”

A Policy of Neutrality• In April 1793, Washington issues the (8)

Neutrality Proclamation. It stated that the United States would not support either side in the war.

Foreign Policy is the actions that a nation takes in relation to

other nations

WORLD WAR I CARTOON, c1915

The Genet Affair

• Many Americans felt sympathy for the French revolutionaries. (9) Edmond Genet even plotted to ignore Washington’s neutrality order.

• The British also (10) seized American ships and impressed, or kidnapped, American sailors to serve in the British navy.

Jay’s Treaty• President Washington sent the secretary of the State,

John Jay to work out a deal to free American ships.• The deal - British to pay damages for seized American

ships. Gave up forts they still had in the (11) Northwest Territory. Americans had to pay any debts long owed to British Merchants.

Jay’s Treaty did nothing to protect the rights of the neutral American ships

Agreement with Spain• The Jay Treaty caused Spain to rethink its foreign policy

with America. Afraid that America and Britain might work together against Spain.

• In 1795, Spanish leaders made a deal with Thomas Pinckney to allow American ships to use the Mississippi River and port of New Orleans. This became known as (12) Pinckney’s Treaty.

New Orleans 1850

In saying farewell to the new nation he helped create Washington pointed out that ".......the name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the

just pride of Patriotism..."

• By 1796, George Washington gave his Farewell Address. He announced that he would retire. He urged that the United States not to get involved with other world affairs or (13) remain neutral. He also called upon Americans not to start (14) political parties and rivalries between Northern and Southern interests in the country.