Understanding Washington’s Domestic and Foreign Policies

Understanding Washington’s Domestic and Foreign Policies

1783: Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution

Despite the treaty, Britain:

Continued to maintain frontier forts along the Great Lakes

Continued their alliances with Native American tribes

1787: The Northwest Ordinance was passed by the Confederation Congress

Despite the Ordinance, Native Americans:

Refused to recognize U.S. claims to the new Northwest Territory

Understanding Washington’s Domestic and Foreign Policies

Native American tribes joined together to oppose the expansion

of American settlers into the Northwest Territory

Miami tribe under Little Turtle

Shawnee tribe under Blue Jacket

Oct 1790: Hamar’s Defeat

• General Hamar led the newly formed First American Regiment to subdue the Native Americans

• Campaign featured a series of battles that were overwhelming victories for the Native Americans

Understanding Washington’s Domestic and Foreign Policies

Nov 1791: Battle of the Wabash

• General St. Clair led a more vigorous effort to subdue the Native American resistance

• Poor defense and limited training led to the Americans being annihilated by the Natives along the Wabash River

Jun 1792: The Legion of the U.S.

• General “Mad” Anthony Wayne was chosen to organize, train, and prepared the new Legion of the United States for action

Understanding Washington’s Domestic and Foreign Policies

France versus Britain

Feb 1793: Revolutionary France declared war on Great Britain

Apr 1793: News of war between France and Great Britain reached Washington

Washington called an emergency meeting of his cabinet

They all agreed that neutrality was essential to preserve the Republic

22 Apr 1793: Washington publically announced the U.S. Proclamation of Neutrality

Understanding Washington’s Domestic and Foreign Policies

Debate over Neutrality Divided Key Cabinet Members

Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson

Secretary of the Treasury:

Alexander Hamilton

• The U.S. could declare its neutrality for a price by stalling and making countries bid

for American neutrality

• American neutrality was not negotiable and could not be bought at

any price

Eventually, Thomas Jefferson

resigned

Understanding Washington’s Domestic and Foreign Policies

20 Apr 1794: Battle of Fallen Timbers

• General “Mad” Anthony Wayne led the new Legion of the United States against the Northern Indian Tribes

• Anticipating help from their British allies, Blue Jacket and Little Turtle prepared for battle

• Outflanked and attacked by both cavalry and bayonet attacks, the Native warriors fled

• The defeated Indians eventually ceded large portions of land at the Treaty of Greenville in 1795

Understanding Washington’s Domestic and Foreign Policies

Jay’s Treaty (Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation)

• Named after the chief negotiator: John Jay

• Key American Issues:

British still occupied Frontier Forts British Navy confiscated American ships British impressment of American sailors British alliances with Native Americans Reopening trade in the British West Indies

• Key Agreements:

British agreed to vacate frontiers forts by June 1796 British to pay compensation for confiscated American ships Britain & the U.S. to share “Most Favored Nation Status” (Trade) U.S. to guarantee British pre-Revolutionary War merchant debts

• Treaty signed: 19 Nov 1794 • Treaty Effective: 29 Feb 1796

Understanding Washington’s Domestic and Foreign Policies

Pinckney’s Treaty (Treaty of Friendship, Limits, & Navigation)

• Named after chief negotiator: Thomas Pinckney

• Spanish Concerns:

Recent U.S./British alliance (Jay’s Treaty) Confirming the border of Spanish Florida

• U.S. / Spanish Concerns:

Established intentions of Friendship between Spain and the U.S. Defined the borders between the U.S. and Spanish colonies Guaranteed U.S. Navigation rights to the Mississippi River Reopened the port of New Orleans to American merchant ships

• Treaty signed: 27 Oct 1795 • Treaty Effective: 3 Aug 1796

• Key Agreements:

Maintaining peace with native southern tribes