Struggle+in+Foreign+Policy

= = = = = = = = toc =American Relations with Europe=

Relation with France
In 1789, the Americans welcomed the idea of the French Revolution. Many of the American citizens thought the French were fellow republicans because of the uprising in France. The whole point of the uprising was to overthow the monarchy system of aristocrats and kings. In 1793, the leaders of the French Revolution started to execute political prisoners and many of the movement's opponents. These people include the King and his family. Another thing was the Leaders of the French Revolution declared war on all the monarchies of Europe. The largest monarchy of Europe was Great Britain which at the time was the highest in military power.

Proclaiming Neutrality
When the Americans heard news of what was happening over in France many Americans became divided. Some disliked the executions, but they still like the idea of a French Republic. Those people were called the Democratic Republicans. Thomas Jefferson stated that the French Revolution was " the most sacred cause that ever man was engaged in." The opposing group wanted to go to war with France because they believed that the revolutionists wanted to destroy religion and social order. Those people were called the Federalists. The Federalists also belived that the Democratic Republicans wanted to destroy religion and social order as well.

In 1789, Britain and France were at war.



Both of the political parties agreed that the United States was too weak to participate as an ally in any of the wars. In this time the United States was dependent on trade for its economic welfare. If anything happened to the trade agreement it would have had a crippling affect on the already strained economy. Ninety percent of all imports came from Great Britain which funded the Federal Government through taxes. Many of the goods that were imported had tariffs placed on them in order to protect the American economy. If the United States became involved with the war there would have been catastrophic concequences. It would mean the colaspe of the Federal Government because the government would have gone bankrupt.

In February 1, 1793, President George Washington issued a proclamation, or public announcement, that stated the United States was not going to be invloved with the current event.The United States became a neutral country. His proclamation was published in the Columbian Centinal on May 4, 1793.





George Washington exclaimed "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."(1)

[|Click here to read George Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality.]

This policy wouldn't change until the twentith century. The British Navy tried testing this policy when they started seizing ships in the French West Indies and and near many colonies. This act of terrorism outraged many of the American citizens and also it brought up the policy of Great Britain along the western Frontier.

Treaty With Britain
During Britain's war with France Britain was starting to take American ships and use the sailors to fight in their war. Washington sent the Chief Justice, John Jay, to London to discuss a compromise. The Jay Treaty of 1794 involved the British giving up forts and keeping restrictions on American land. America was also required to pay debts to Britain. Another aspect of this treaty stated that there would be peace between Britain and the United States. In article one of this treaty it is stated that "There will be a firm, inviolable and universal peace, and a true and sincere friendship between his Britannic Majesty, his heirs and successors, and the United States of America; and between their respective countries, territories, cities, towns, and people of every degree, without exception of persons or places" (2). This article shows how the United States wanted to become allies with Britain because it is written in the treaty that America and Britain will have peace and friendship. This treaty stricked anger from the Democratic Republicans because they felt it was unfair, but it also prevented America from going to war. [|Do you want to read the actual Jay Treaty? Click here.]

Treaty With Spain
The Pinckney's treaty, also known as the treaty of San Lorenzo, was signed at San Lorenzo on October 27, 1795. It was between Thomas Pinckney and Spain and settled the American trade block through the Mississippi River and New Orleans. The treaty stated that the Americans would get full and free shipping rights through the Mississippi River and New Orleans. The treaty also set the northern boundary for Spanish Florida. An actual quote from the treaty states "The southern boundary of the United States, which divides their territory from the Spanish colonies of East and West Florida, shall be designated by a line beginning on the river Mississippi . . . ". (3). This passage reflects the boundary being placed just above the Mississippi. Not only did it allow Americans to trade more freely, but it also freed up room for America to expand. Americans were able to travel to new lands like todays Mississippi and Alabama. This treaty was also of great importance to America because more 100,000 westerners relied on trade with New Orleans.

[|Do you want to read the actual Pinckney Treaty? Click here.]

Washington's Advice
In 1796 Washington did not run for presidency a third time. In his farewell address he gave an important peice of advice about America's foreign policy. In short, Washington stated that it would be better for the nation to avoid getting involved in european affairs by saying "Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peaces and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice" (1). This meant that these alliances could start wars and in the nation's state, at the time, it would never survive.

[|Do you want to read Washington's actual farewell address? Click here.]

= = =Work Cited (Foreign Affair with Europe)= 1. [] 2. [] 3. [] 4. Lapsansky-Werner, Emma J., Roberts, Randy, Levy, Peter B., Taylor, Alan. Prentice Hall__: United States History__. Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008.

=John Adams Administration= In 1796, John Adams defeated Thomas Jefferson to become the second president of the United States. Thomas Jefferson became his vice president by default because he was the second place finisher in the election. Although Adams was seen as truthful and dedicated to his job, his hard to approach character created many enemies for his administration. The most difficult obstacle the Adams administration faced was America's neutrality with foreign countries, specifically France and England. Both countries wanted the United States' support in their battle against each other, and this caused great turmoil for Adams and his advisors.

http://symonsez.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/this-date-in-history-inauguration-firsts/

X-Y-Z Affair
Due to rising tension between France and the United States, John Adams sent three commissioners to France to negotiate avoiding war. The American commissioners, Charles Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry, were to meet with the French foreign minister Charles Talleyrand. In a letter to the French Republic, Adams describes his intentions as to "faithfully represent the disposition of the government and people of the United States (their disposition being 1); to remove jealousies and obviate complaints by shewing that they were groundless, to restore that mutual confidence which had been so unfortunately and injuriously impaired, and to explain the relative interests of both countries and the real sentiments of his own" (3). Although Adams truly believed the mission would relieve tension for the United States, it only worsened it because three french agents demanded a bribe from the U.S to speak with Talleyrand. The bribe was worth $250,000, and France was to recieve a $10 million dollar loan. The bribe "would not guarantee a resolution of the problems but merely that the Americans would be received as representatives of a recognized government" (1). The American commissioners declined the offer for the bribe, and immediately returned to the United States. Furthermore, when Adams made the report of the mission public, he replaced the names of each French agent with the letters "X", "Y", and "Z". The replacement of the real agents' names was to simply avoid anymore difficulties with France, regarding the humiliation of their officials. This publicized description of the trip not only outraged Congress, due to France's alleged blackmail, but the public immediately developed a negative and war-fueled perspective towards France too. This idea of war not only sparked rage towards France, but it also forced the creation of the Navy Department by Adams, due to attacks on ships and undeclared naval war.

The Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by congress in 1798 during the John Adams administration. The acts were an effort to strengthen the power of the United States' federal government. The Alien and Sedition Acts include four different laws. The first law was the Naturalization Act, and it required aliens to live in the United States for fouteen years to become elible for U.S citizenship. This is a nine year increase from the previous law that only required a five year residency. The second act was the Alien Act, which gave the president power to deport any alien that was considered a threat to the peace and safety of the country. The third act was the Alien Enemies Act. "This act allowed the wartime arrest, imprisonment and deportation of any alien subject to an enemy power" (4). The fourth and last law of the Alien and Sedition Acts was the Sedition Act. The Sedition Act was comprised of four sections, all incorporating different laws. http://kellenebishop.blogspot.com/

__Section 1-__**__.__ "That if any persons shall unlawfully combine or conspire together, with intent to oppose any measure or measures of the government of the United States, which are or shall be directed by proper authority, or to impede the operation of any law of the United States, or to intimidate or prevent any person holding a place or office in or under the government of the United States, from undertaking, performing, or executing his trust or duty: and if any person or persons, shall counsel, advise, or attempt to procure any insurrection, riot, unlawful assembly, or combination, whether such conspiracy, threatening, counsel, advice, or attempt shall have the proposed effect or not, he or they shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanour, and on conviction before any court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, and by imprisonment during a term of not less than six months, nor exceeding five years; and further, at the discretion of the court, may be holden to find sureties for his good behaviour, in such sum, and for such time, as the said court may direct" (5) //And be it further enacted and declared//, That if any person shall be prosecuted under this act for the writing or publishing any libel aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the defendant, upon the trial of the cause, to give in evidence in his defence, the truth of the matter contained in the publication charged as a libel. And the jury who shall try the cause shall have a right to determine the law and the fact, under the direction of the court, as in other cases" (5).
 * From The Sedition Act of 1798:
 * __Section 2-__ "**//And be it further enacted//, That if any person shall write, print, utter, or publish, or shall cause or procure to be written, printed, uttered, or published, or shall knowingly and willingly assist or aid in writing, printing, uttering, or publishing any false, scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States, or either House of the Congress of the United States, or the President of the United States, with intent to defame the said government, or either House of the said Congress, or the said President, or to bring them, or either of them, into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against them, or either or any of them, the hatred of the good people of the United States, or to stir up sedition within the United States; or to excite any unlawful combinations therein, for opposing or resisting any law of the United States, or any act of the President of the United States, done in pursuance of any such law, or of the powers in him vested by the Constitution of the United States; or to resist, oppose, or defeat any such law or act; or to aid, encourage or abet any hostile designs of any foreign nation against the United States, their people or government, then such person, being thereof convicted before any court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, and by imprisonment not exceeding two years" (5).
 * __Section 3-__ "**//And be it further enacted and declared//, That if any person shall be prosecuted under this act for the writing or publishing any libel aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the defendant, upon the trial of the cause, to give in evidence in his defence, the truth of the matter contained in the publication charged as a libel. And the jury who shall try the cause shall have a right to determine the law and the fact, under the direction of the court, as in other cases."
 * __Section 4-__** "//And be it further enacted//, That this act shall continue and be in force until the third day of March, one thousand eight hundred and one, and no longer: //Provided//, That the expiration of the act shall not prevent or defeat a prosecution and punishment of any offence against the law, during the time it shall be in force" (5).

The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
In 1798 and 1799 the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions were written by the Democratic Republicans, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. These resolutions were passed by state legislatures, and they argued that the Sedition Act was unconstitutional. Jefferson and Madison also proposed that states had the power to nullify or void federal laws that were considered unconstitutional. As it says it The Kentucky Resolution, "The representatives of the good people of this commonwealth in general assembly convened, having maturely considered the answers of sundry states in the Union, to their resolutions passed at the last session, respecting certain unconstitutional laws of Congress, commonly called the alien and sedition laws, would be faithless indeed to themselves, and to those they represent, were they silently to acquiesce in principles and doctrines attempted to be maintained in all those answers, that of Virginia only excepted. To again enter the field of argument, and attempt more fully or forcibly to expose the unconstitutionality of those obnoxious laws, would, it is apprehended be as unnecessary as unavailing" (7). Overall, the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions questioned the civil liberties in the Alien and Sedition Acts, and they set a precedent for questioning the constitutionality of future laws.

Native Americans and the U.S. Government
By the 1850s nearly 360,000 Native Americans lived in the Mississippi area. These indians were confined to indian territory. These Native American groups encountered adversity as the steady flow of European immigrants into northeastern American cities pushed a stream of migrants into the western lands already occupied by these diverse groups of Indians. Native American Policy can be defined as the laws and operations developed and adapted in the United States. This is that when we came to this country we based most of our beliefs and costumes off of the natives ways. They taught us to fend for our selves and how to prepare food and shelter. Around 2 centuries later the U.S. adapted its own widely varying policies regarding the changing perspectives and necessities of Native American supervision. We just altered the rules rather than changing them. Congress made a new agency within the War Department called the Bureau of Indian Affairs. They were in charge of being like the bodyguard of the u.s army. The indians were recognized as being independent and self-governed, so we took them in as like our saftey net in case we we spiraling out of control. however, at other times the government attempted to force the Native Americans to abandon their cultural identity, give up their land and assimilate into the American culture. The U.S. government’s policies towards Native Americans in the second half of the nineteenth century were influenced by the desire to expand westward into territories occupied by these Indian tribes. So when we started working with them and were friends allies all that jazz ended up ending. We started to change there beliefs and there culture, destroyed there land to conquer and gain more land. With the steady flow of settlers into Indian controlled land, Eastern newspapers published sensationalized stories of cruel native tribes committing massive massacres of hundreds of white travelers.

6.http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/sanlorenzo/

=Little Turtle:=

Little Turtle was a war leader of the Miami Indians. He was born in about 1752. His Native American name was Michikinikwa.

With the Treaty of Paris,in 1783, England gave up all claims to the Ohio Country. Settlers rapidly moved across the Appalachian Mountains to the Northwest Territory. Little Turtle, played a huge role in Indian resistance to settlers claiming their lands. In 1790 General Josiah Harmar led 1,400 soldiers into Miami Indain and Shawnee Indian land. In October, Little Turtle and Shawnee chief Tecumseh, along with many followers, succeeded in driving out Harmar's men. In 1791, General Arthur St. Clair led 2,000 American soldiers against the natives in Ohio. Once again, Little Turtle led the Indians to victory at a battle known as St. Clair's Defeat.

Little Turtle also tried to seize Fort Recovery in 1794, but his men failed to do so. Following this defeat, Little Turtle realized that the British had no desire to help the Indians against General Wayne's army (who was the successor of St. Clair and Harmar). Little Turtle encouraged his followers to negotiate with the Americans. Other native war leaders refused to listen, and insisted that Wayne's army must be fought. Shortly after rejecting Little Turtle's call for peace, the Native Americans lost the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. In 1795, Indians living in western Ohio sent representatives to Fort Greene Ville where they met in council with the Americans. They then signed the Treaty of Greenville. The natives, including Little Turtle, agreed to give all but the northwestern corner of modern-day Ohio to the United States. Little Turtle refused to take up arms against the United States ever again. He became a celebrity among the American people. He urged his fellow natives to keep the peace.

Works cited:
 * 1) http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/greenville/
 * 2) http://www.indigenouspeople.net/turtle.htm

Works Cited: 1. [] 2. [] 3. [|http://www.american-presidents.com/john-adams/xyz-affair-speech] 4. [] 5 6. [|http://www.constitution.org/rf/sedition_1798.htm6.http://www.victoriana.com/history/nativeamericans.html] [|7. http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/jaytreaty/] 8. [] = =