Nov. 4, Early U.S. Foreign Policy: Washington and Adams Presidencies 1793-1801

George Washington’s Presidency (1789–1797)

1. French Revolution (1789)

  • France’s people revolt after being taxed into poverty by King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.

  • The revolution becomes violent — widespread executions by guillotine.

  • France asks the U.S. for help since they helped in the American Revolution.

  • Washington’s Decision: Stay neutral — U.S. too weak (no army, navy, or money).

  • Precedent set: U.S. should remain neutral in foreign wars.

    • Followed in WWI and WWII (initially).

    • Reinforced in Washington’s Farewell Address: Avoid foreign entanglements (no peacetime military alliances).

    • U.S. stays out until forming NATO (1947) as a superpower.

2. Problems with England

  • Two issues:

    1. British troops still in Northwest Territory (violation of Treaty of Paris 1783).

    2. Impressment: British navy stops American ships and forces sailors into British service.

      • Initially legal (many sailors were deserters), but later becomes illegal as they seize American sailors too.

  • Washington’s Response: Avoid war, negotiate first — sets precedent: “Talk before war.”

    • Later summarized by Teddy Roosevelt as “Speak softly but carry a big stick.”

  • Leads to Jay’s Treaty (1794):

    • Britain agrees to remove troops (again) and improve trade.

    • Does not end impressment yet.

    • Democratic-Republicans hate it (too friendly with Britain).

3. Problems with Spain

  • Spain controls New Orleans and blocks American farmers from storing goods there.

  • Spain also arms Native Americans to attack U.S. settlers — considered an act of war.

  • Because Jay’s Treaty brought U.S. closer to Britain, Spain feared a U.S.-British alliance.

  • Result: Pinckney’s Treaty (1795) — U.S. gains:

    • Free navigation of Mississippi River.

    • Right to store goods in New Orleans.

    • Spain agrees to stop aiding Native attacks.

4. Native American Policy

  • States wanted control to take land; Washington disagreed.

  • Precedent: Treat Native tribes as independent nations — federal government makes treaties with them.

  • This is why tribes today retain special sovereign rights (e.g., casinos on reservations).

Washington’s Key Precedents

  1. Neutrality in foreign wars.

  2. Negotiate before war.

  3. Treat Native tribes as nations.

John Adams’s Presidency (1797–1801)

1. Electoral College Flaw

  • Adams (Federalist) becomes President; Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) becomes Vice President — rivals in office.

  • Adams offers “co-presidency” (domestic/foreign split); Jefferson refuses (party loyalty).

2. The XYZ Affair (1797–1798)

  • France angry over Jay’s Treaty and U.S. neutrality.

  • Begins seizing U.S. ships.

  • Adams sends diplomats to negotiate.

  • French agents (“X, Y, and Z”) demand:

    • $250,000 bribe + $10 million loan just to meet French leaders.

  • U.S. refuses — considered bribery, a constitutional crime.

  • Adams strengthens the Navy and begins a small Quasi-War with France (mostly at sea).

3. Outcome

  • Many Americans want war, but Adams insists on peace.

  • Negotiates until Napoleon takes power and halts attacks.

  • Quasi-War ends peacefully.

  • Adams’s main accomplishment: Avoided war with France.

4. Washington’s Death (1799)

  • Dies after illness; Napoleon honors him by halting French attacks for a month.

5. Adams’s Legacy

  • Ends Quasi-War peacefully.

  • First president to live in the White House.

  • Seen as arrogant, not very effective overall.

  • Continues Washington’s precedents: neutrality, negotiation before war, and avoiding alliances.