| As America took her place among the other nations of the world in the late 18c, she had to deal with many new foreign policy issues. Using the documents and your knowledge of this topic, analyze the evolution of American foreign policy in the period 1793-1825. |
| Whereas it appears
that a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the
United Netherlands, of the one part, and France on the other; and the duty and interest of
the United States require, that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue
a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent Powers; I have therefore thought
fit by these presents to declare the disposition of the United States to observe the
conduct aforesaid towards those Powers respectfully; and to exhort and warn the citizens
of the United States carefully to avoid all acts and proceedings whatsoever, which may in
any manner tend to contravene such disposition. George Washington |
| Dear Sir: The returned
draught of a letter to Mr. Gouvr. Morris accords with my sentiments. Taking it for
granted, that the words "We suppose this will rather overpay the instalments and
interest due on the loans of 18.6 and 10 Millions," mean all that could be demanded by the French Government to the dose of last year. This being the idea I have entertained of the payments, and engagements to pay. If it has not been done in a former letter, it would be agreeable to me, that Mr. Morris should be instructed to neglect no favorable opportunity of expressing informally the sentiments and wishes of this Country respecting the M. de la Fayette. And I pray you to commit to paper, in answer to the enclosed letter from Madame de la Fayette to me, all the consolation I can with propriety give her consistent with my public character and the National policy; circumstanced as things are. My last, and only letter to her is herewith sent, that you may see what has been written heretofore.... XYZ
Affair |
| Upon the whole I
conclude That the treaties are still binding, notwithstanding the change of government in
France: that no part of them, but the clause of guarantee, holds up danger, even at a
distance. And consequently that a liberation from no other part could be proposed in any
case: that if that clause may ever bring danger, it is neither extreme, nor imminent, nor
even probable: that the authority for renouncing a treaty, when useless or disagreeable,
is either misunderstood, or in opposition to itself, to all their writers, & to every
moral feeling: that were it not so, these treaties are in fact neither useless nor
disagreeable. Opinion
on the French Treaties |
ARTICLE 1. There shall be a firm inviolable and universal Peace, and a true and sincere Friendship between His Britannick Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, and the United States of America; and between their respective Countries, Territories, Cities, Towns and People of every Degree, without Exception of Persons or Places. ARTICLE 2. His Majesty will withdraw all His Troops and Garrisons from all Posts and Places within the Boundary Lines assigned by the Treaty of Peace to the United States. This Evacuation shall take place on or before the first Day of June One thousand seven hundred and ninety six, and all the proper Measures shall in the interval be taken by concert between the Government of the United States, and His Majesty's Governor General in America, for settling the previous arrangements which may be necessary respecting the delivery of the said Posts: The United States in the mean Time at Their discretion extending their settlements to any part within the said boundary line, except within the precincts or Jurisdiction of any of the said Posts. GREAT BRITAIN: NOVEMBER 19, 1794 |
| The President of the
United States of America and the First Consul of the French Republic in the name of the
French people, in consequence of the treaty of cession of Louisiana which has been Signed
this day... who, in virtue of their full powers, which have been exchanged this day, have
agreed to the followings articles: Article I The Government of the United States engages to pay to the French government in the manner Specified in the following article the sum of Sixty millions of francs independant of the Sum which Shall be fixed by another Convention for the payment of the debts due by France to citizens of the United States. Article II For the payment of the Sum of Sixty millions of francs mentioned in the preceeding article the United States shall create a Stock of eleven millions, two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars bearing an interest of Six per cent: per annum payable half y early in London Amsterdam or Paris amounting by the half year to three hundred and thirty Seven thousand five hundred Dollars, according to the proportions which Shall be determined by the french Govenment to be paid at either place: The principal of the Said Stock to be reimbursed at the treasury of the United States in annual payments of not less than three millions of Dollars each; of which the first payment Shall commence fifteen years after the date of the exchange of ratifications:--this Stock Shall be transferred to the government of France or to Such person or persons as Shall be authorized to receive it in three months at most after the exchange of ratifications of this treaty and after Louisiana Shall be taken possession of the name of the Government of the United States. It is further agreed that if the french Government Should be desirous of disposing of the Said Stock to receive the capital in Europe at Shorter terms that its measures for that purpose Shall be taken So as to favour in the greatest degree possible the credit of the United States, and to raise to the highest price the Said Stock. 1st.
CONVENTION: |
| An Act to enable the
President of the United States to take possession of the territories ceded by France to
the United States, by the treaty concluded at Paris, on the thirtieth of April last; and
for the temporary government thereof. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to take possession of, and occupy the territory ceded by France to the United States, by the treaty concluded at Paris, on the thirtieth day of April last, between the two nations; and that he may for that purpose, and in order to maintain in the said territories the authority of the United States, employ any part of the army and navy of the United States, and of the force authorized by an act passed the third day of March last, intituled "An act directing a detachment from the militia of the United States, and for erecting certain arsenals," which he may deem necessary: and so much of the sum appropriated by the said act as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated for the purpose of carrying this act into effect; to be applied under the direction of the President of the United States. Authority Given to the President |
| ...In the cession made
by the preceeding article are included the adjacent Islands belonging to Louisiana all
public lots and Squares, vacant lands and all public buildings, fortifications, barracks
and other edifices which are not private property.--The Archives, papers & documents relative to the domain and Sovereignty of Louisiana and its dependances will be left in the possession of the Commissaries of the United States, and copies will be afterwards given in due form to the Magistrates and Municipal officers of such of the said papers and documents as may be necessary to them... Louisiana Purchase : Treaty 1803 |
| In the discussion to
which this interest [Russia's on the northwest coast] has given rise, the occasion has
been judged proper for asserting, as a principle in which the rights and interests of the
United States are involved, that the American continents, by the free and independent
condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for the future colonization by any European powers.... The political system of the Allied Powers [Holy Alliance] is essentially different...from that of America. This difference proceeds from that which exists in their prospective [monarchical] governments; and to the defence of our own...this whole nation is devoted. We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power, we have not interfered and shall not interfere. But with the governments [of Spanish America] who have declared their independence and maintained it, and whose independence we have, on great consideration and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States.... PRESIDENT MONROE--1823 |