Objectives

2. Objectives

3. Neutrality Towards Europe • Initially most Americans supported the French Revolution since it was in the name of creating a Republic • The Reign of Terror - • Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality – • Hamilton persuaded Washington to acknowledge that America’s Revolutionary War treaty with France was voided, since it was made with France’s now deposed monarchy • Hamilton saw Britain as a profitable trade partner that must be maintained • France and England go to war after Jacobin led French government declares war on all Monarchies. Since America was the largest neutral shipper of supplies, made them a military liability for both sides

4. Tenuous Foreign Relations • Citizen Genet Affair – • Jefferson resigns Secretary of State post over criticism of his support of French Revolution, and his ongoing feud with Hamilton • Genet eventually returns to America when the French government is overthrown • Pinckney’s Treaty – • Negotiated by diplomat Thomas Pinckney

5. Native Americans Resist • Natives were not included in the Treaty of Paris and did not accept America’s land acquisitions. • They still claimed their lands in the new states created by the Northwest Ordinance • Little Turtle – • Miami Confederacy wins small battles across Ohio until Washington sends a larger force to fend off the Native threat • Battle of Fallen Timbers – • Treaty of Grenville – Miami Confederation gives up land in Ohio in exchange for money and goods

6. Retirement of Washington • The Farewell Address - • Washington unwilling to serve a 3rd term with such a political division between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans • Retires to Mount Vernon, Virginia • Jay’s Treaty – • GB made few concessions, refusing to stop raiding American ships or recruiting captured American sailors for the British navy • French see treaty as a violation of the French-American alliance

7. Washington’s Legacy

8. Replacing a Legend • Election of 1796 – first Presidential election with opposing parties. John Adams defeats Thomas Jefferson in a narrow race, but by electoral college law, Jefferson is named Vice President for coming in 2nd place • The rise of political parties had caused a divide within the executive branch, a problem that the framers didn’t anticipate • John Adams– • Sectionalism – • Growing danger of sectionalism arises. Nearly all voters from the North voted for Adams, South voted for Jefferson, indicating a divided nation

9. Anti-French Feeling Resonates • Jay’s Treaty with the British angered the French, threat of war begins to loom • Adams sends 3 man delegation to Paris to negotiate a solution. French had little patience for the concerns of America • Reign of Terror had ended, and France was run by a 5 man executive called the Directory. • General Napoleon Bonaparte had conquered much of Western Europe • XYZ Affair – • Adam invests heavily in the creation of American Navy, to protect shipping interests

10. “The Paris Monster”

11. Adams Provokes Criticism • Eleventh Amendment (1798) – a state can not be sued in federal court by a citizen of another state or by citizens of foreign countries • Distrust of immigrants grows, fear that French spies are trying to overthrow the government. Many foreigners were Democratic-Republican by party allegiance, creating distrust of Federalist intentions • Alien and Sedition Acts – • Democratic-Republicans saw as a violation of 1st amendment rights of free speech, Federalists feared loss of unity was worth curbing the 1st amendment • Nullifications – • Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions demanded the ability to void national laws, known as a nullifications, but are denied

12. Death of Washington • Washington dies of pneumonia in 1799 and is buried at Mount Vernon • The US moves on after the death of the Father of the nation • Bonaparte, now 1st consul of France, declares 10 days of mourning to try to improve US-French relations