Early American Foreign Policy: Washington and Adams

Vocabulary flashcards covering early United States foreign policy under Presidents George Washington and John Adams, including key treaties, diplomatic crises, and political divisions.

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

An official announcement establishing that the United States would remain neutral and stay out of the war between Britain and France, setting neutrality as a primary foreign policy goal under George Washington.

Federalists (Foreign Policy)

A political faction that favored Great Britain in the European war, supported the Jay Treaty and the Sedition Act, and grew angered over French actions in the XYZ Affair.

Democratic-Republicans (Foreign Policy)

A political faction that favored France during the French and British conflict and strongly opposed (hated) both the Jay Treaty and the Sedition Act.

The Jay Treaty (1794)

An agreement between the United States and Britain that lowered tensions and avoided war by securing British evacuation of forts in the Northwest Territory and U.S. payment of pre-Revolutionary debts, though it failed to address impressment.

XYZ Affair (1797–1798)

A diplomatic incident during John Adams's presidency where French agents (X, Y, and Z) demanded bribes and loans from U.S. diplomats to start negotiations, causing severe outrage among Americans.

"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!"

The popular American slogan that arose from public outrage over the French bribery and loan demands during the XYZ Affair.

Quasi-War

An undeclared conflict between the United States and France that was sparked by the fallout and outrage of the XYZ Affair.

Sedition Act (1798)

A law supported by Federalists and hated by Republicans that made it a crime to criticize the government or its officials, targeting political opponents of President John Adams in a clear First Amendment violation.

Convention of 1800 (Treaty of Mortefontaine)

A diplomatic agreement between the United States and France that peacefully brought an end to the undeclared Quasi-War.

Early American Neutrality

The foreign policy approach held by George Washington and John Adams based on the shared belief that the United States was too young and too weak to participate in major European wars.