Ch 6 Sec 2
Foreign troubles under
Washington & Adams
What you need to know
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US reaction to French Revolution
Neutrality
Edmund Genet Affair
Pinckney Treaty
Jay’s Treaty
Election of 1796
XYZ Affair
Quasi-war
Alien & Sedition Acts
The French Revolution
• Americans originally supported
the French Revolution
–People standing up to a bad king
• But US & France were allies, so
US had to be careful
–Don’t want to end up supporting
the losers
The French Revolution
• French Revolution got out of
hand & crazy
–Beheaded the king
–Reign of Terror
–Declared war on other countries
including Britain
The French Revolution
• Federalists actually supported
British, wanted US to help them
• Dem-Reps wanted to honor
alliance w/France & help them
Washington’s Reponse
• Washington decided it was best
to stay neutral
–US wasn’t in a position to get
involved anyway
–Outlawed regular citizens getting
involved in Brit-French war
Edmund Genet Affair
• French diplomat sent to get US
support for war against Britain
• US was neutral, wouldn’t help
• Went to Charleston SC before
going to meet Pres Washington
Edmund Genet Affair
• In Charleston, hired Americans
to help fight the British
• Washington was very offended
–Was supposed to talk to the
POTUS before talking to citizens
–Endangered neutrality
Reaction to Genet
• Federalists used Genet to trash
Jefferson for being pro-France
• Jefferson quit Sec of State
because of the harassment
Pinckney Treaty
• Spain had new treaty w/France
• Became scared US & Brits
would team up on them
–Spain owned land in southern US
& lots of land west of Miss. River
Pinckney Treaty
• Treaty between
Spain & USA:
– Gave US all land
north of Florida
– Allowed US
access to port of
New Orleans &
Miss. River
Conflicts w/natives
• Treaty of Paris gave US rights
to land W of Appalachians
• British still had forts there,
wouldn’t leave
Conflicts w/natives
• Brits convinced natives to fight
against American settlers
• Had several battles, natives
won early, then US won big
Conflicts w/natives
• US “bought” big amt of land
from natives for very little $
• Big US victories made British
willing to leave & make peace
Jay’s Treaty
• Brits gave up claims of western
lands once & for all
• US let Brits fur trade on US soil
• Made trade agreement w/Brits
Jay’s Treaty
• Very controversial
• Dem-Reps hated that it made
concessions to British
–Hated making US closer to Brits;
wanted US to be close to France
Washington leaves
• Decided to leave after 2 terms
–Battles between Federalists &
Dem-Reps wore him down
• In Farewell Address:
–Advised that US avoid permanent
alliances w/other countries
Election of 1796
• Federalist John Adams (had
been VP) beat Dem-Rep
Thomas Jefferson
• Back then, loser became VP
Adams & France
• France saw Jay Treaty as
violation of their alliance w/US
• Began attacking US merchant
ships headed for Britain
Adams & France
• Adams sent 3 high-level
diplomats to France
• Americans expected to meet
with French foreign minister
Charles Talleyrand
XYZ Affair
• Talleyrand refused to see the 3
Americans
• Sent 3 low-level officials
(nicknamed XYZ) to Americans
• Demanded $250,000 bribe
The Sorta-Kinda War
• Huge insult – US said forget it
• US built up navy, started
attacking French ships
• “Quasi-war” on sea lasted 2
yrs, no land war ever started
Alien & Sedition Acts
• New immigrants to US then
mostly became Dem-Reps
–Appeal to farmers/working class
• Federalists were concerned
they were French spies
Alien & Sedition Acts
• Federalists passed laws to
control immigrants
• Alien Acts:
–Made it hard to become a citizen,
let POTUS deport “undesirables”
• Sedition Act
–Punishments for criticizing gov
Alien & Sedition Acts
• Dem-Reps got jailed for
criticizing Federalists in power
• Serious violation of free speech
• Unpopular law, got revoked
VA & KY Resolutions
• Jefferson & Madison got laws
passed in VA & KY
• Nullification
–States can ignore national laws
they think are unconstitutional
Death of Washington
• Caught a serious cold Dec 1799
• Died suddenly
What you need to know
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
US reaction to French Revolution
Neutrality
Edmund Genet Affair
Pinckney Treaty
Jay’s Treaty
Election of 1796
XYZ Affair
Quasi-war
Alien & Sedition Acts