George Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality
George Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality
name
teacher
CHA 3U1
February 7th, 2014
The French Revolution divided the newly founded country of the United States of America. The country needed to pick a side between the French and the English. The Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton wanted to keep ties with Britain for economic reasons. The Minister to France Thomas Jefferson felt that they were obligated to help France after what they did for the United States during the American Revolution.1 While Hamilton and Jefferson each had their own side with many supporters behind them, President George Washington decided to make America neutral in the war between Britain and France. In April of 1793, President Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality.1 President Washington felt that neutrality was the best option for the foreign affairs of the United States so that it could grow and then later become a powerful nation. The French Revolution did not involve only Britain and France. Both countries had allies. The countries involved in the war needed natural resources to supply their part in the war. The United States was a big country even with only 13 states at the time. This land was also not inhabited as much as some other European countries. This made the United States a threshold for natural resources. This was great for American trading with other countries that needed resources for the war. If the United States were to pick an ally, they would cut off trade with either France or Britain and each of those countries’ allies. This would cause a huge lose in trading and not help the country grow and get out of its own debt from their own revolution. At the time of the French Revolution, the United States was still a young country. War is very expensive to be a part of. The United Sates just came out of their own revolutionary war and needed to pay off the debt of it. They wouldn’t be
name
teacher
CHA 3U1
February 7th, 2014
The French Revolution divided the newly founded country of the United States of America. The country needed to pick a side between the French and the English. The Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton wanted to keep ties with Britain for economic reasons. The Minister to France Thomas Jefferson felt that they were obligated to help France after what they did for the United States during the American Revolution.1 While Hamilton and Jefferson each had their own side with many supporters behind them, President George Washington decided to make America neutral in the war between Britain and France. In April of 1793, President Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality.1 President Washington felt that neutrality was the best option for the foreign affairs of the United States so that it could grow and then later become a powerful nation. The French Revolution did not involve only Britain and France. Both countries had allies. The countries involved in the war needed natural resources to supply their part in the war. The United States was a big country even with only 13 states at the time. This land was also not inhabited as much as some other European countries. This made the United States a threshold for natural resources. This was great for American trading with other countries that needed resources for the war. If the United States were to pick an ally, they would cut off trade with either France or Britain and each of those countries’ allies. This would cause a huge lose in trading and not help the country grow and get out of its own debt from their own revolution. At the time of the French Revolution, the United States was still a young country. War is very expensive to be a part of. The United Sates just came out of their own revolutionary war and needed to pay off the debt of it. They wouldn’t be
Cited: 1. Carter, Patrick, Fiorella Finelli, Derek Crant, and David Nagy. American History. Toronto, Ont.: Emond Montgomery Publications, 2008. Print.