Adam Taylor

                                                                                                Per. 2 AP US History

                                                                                                11-1-04

                                                                                                Politics 1789-1800

American Avoiding War

            In the years between 1789-1800, America struggled with many international affairs to avoid war with either France or Britain.  In these years America was a child learning how to survive, and it was caught in the middle of wars in Europe. Europe was in war, turmoil, because of the decapitation of King Louis XIV in France and the Reign of Terror and anarchy. All the other European monarchies wanted to restore a monarchy to France and to stop the spread of revolutionary ideas, and they did this by military force.  So England and France were at war and both were looking at America to choice sides. America had a lot of learning to do, if it wanted to avoid war. 

            In April, 1793 President George Washington declared neutrality, and thus kept the US from having to choice sides with either Britain or France in a war. It also nullified the treaty of 1778, with France, meaning the US didn’t have to protect France’s possessions in the West Indies. This neutrality was strongly followed, because when French ambassador Genêt tried getting privateers outfitted in America to attack the British, Washington order him to stop his activates, and to leave the country.  But problems had arisen in France due to a new government taking to power, and they had given a warrant for Genêt arrest. So he asked for an, an asylum in America, and it was granted to him. He would live out his life in the United States.  So with neutrality, America would now try to make peace treaties, with Britain and France.

            The Americans pushed for a peaceful resolve with Britain through Jay’s Treaty. When the British stopped seizing American vessels in April, 1794, President Washington pushed for peace talks. So Washington sent Chief Justice, John Jay to Great Britain. There Jay accepted the British definition of neutral rights, and Rule of 1756. Also Jay promised no more French privateers would be outfitted in American ports. Finally he said that all slaves, who escaped during the Revolution to join the British were nullified, and the American government will pay off American’s debts to British merchants. In exchange the British agreed to evacuate their northwest forts by 1796, and to pay for seizing of vessels during the years of 1793-94. On June 24, 1795 just barely the treaty was put into place. So ended problems with Britain for the time being.

            Now that America had the Jay Treaty, it had to deal with the undeclared naval war with France. By 1797, when John Adams came to office the French had plundered some 300 American vessels, and broken all diplomatic relations. So ambassador Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, was sent to Paris, along with John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry, for negotiations. Upon arrival foreign minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, sent three agents that were nicknamed X, Y, and Z to meet the Americans, and to inform them that they must pay a quarter of a million dollars to even start negotiations. The American delegates called this the XYZ Affair, and also the Paris Monster that demanded money. The American delegates said no, to this outrageous amount of money, and back home the citizens were talking about how millions are spent on defense, but not a cent for tribute. When President Adams, found out, he proclaimed a end to all trade with France, that any French naval vessel spotted should be captured, and a end to the already dead alliance of 1778. So America started to prepare for a naval war with France, but meanwhile a civilian by the name of  George Logan, went to Paris, to head the war off. There he got a few American seamen released and the assurances that a new American ambassador would be welcomed. Due to this mission that he went on by himself, the Logan Act was passed. This act made it so that no civilian without the authority of Congress could do not negotiate with foreign governments. This act was put into place in 1799. About the same time, peace talks opened up, and America sent delegates to France. Upon arrival in 1799, the delegates found that First Consul Napoleon, after he had successfully completed his coup de tat in 1798, was in power. With the Convention of 1800,peace was declared on December 21, 1801. Thus America avoided war with both England, and France successfully.

            So with peace treaties with the Jay Treaty, with Britain and the Convention of 1800 with France, America had avoided war. So American had survived the first round, and was now stronger and would be better off for the next problems that would arise. For example the War of 1812 that was just around the country, and buying the Louisiana Purchase.