Revolutionary War Dbq

Despite the faults during the Trade Embargo, American foreign policy was overall successful because the US, with the help of the French, defeated the British in the revolutionary war, grew the country in the Louisiana Purchase, and signed the Convention of 1800. United States Foreign Policy was successful despite the Trade Embargo of 1807. In order to decrease the national debt, Thomas Jefferson imposed a tax on all trade entering the United States. Britain and France opposed the taxes and threatened to start a war.1 In response, Jefferson ordered congress to block all trade into the U.S. as a moral statement of war. The only major benefit to preventing trade was that it forced Americans to be innovative. Most of the resources imported
France had multiple reasons for joining the American Revolutionary War against the British. After the Seven Year War, where the British were victorious over the French, France wanted to restore a higher placement in Europe.5 Britain had the more economic power, which France wanted depleted. The most substantial reason that convinced the French to join with America was that France supported the independent republican ideas that the American Revolution was based on. By supplying Americans with the proper weaponry, the Americans succeeded. France provided guns, money, and immense amounts of equipment that accounted for about half of America’s armed forces.6 Not only did France help land forces, their supply of naval ships helped the Americans defeat British ships in the Atlantic Ocean. At many moments during the war, France’s ships blocked and destroyed British fleets approaching the shore.7 Without the help of the French military supplies and ships, the Americans might have lost the war. France believed the Americans were their chance to expand their economy worldwide.8 Through observing the strong motivation that the American’s had to fight, France used the American’s motive along with many of their own to justify joining the war. The effective American foreign policy convinced France that joining the war was justified. After the revolutionary war,
Before the Louisiana Purchase, France started the Quasi War with America.14 During France’s Revolution, the United States settled trade agreements with Britain. Furious, France’s navy attacked many U.S trading ships, forcing the U.S to declare war. By mid 1800, France had secured Napoleon in power, who dramatically reduced the amount of attacks on U.S ships.15 The Convention of 1800 ended the French-American War.16 The situation was important because it was the first official treaty the United States had signed. The treaty represented America’s commitment to positive foreign relations with many countries in Europe. The treaty also shows that even after war, commendable associations could be made, thus making this a United States Foreign Policy a