Chapter 9
Lesson 2 – Early Challenges
Trouble in the New Nation
• Conflicts between Britain and France
• Fights with Native Americans to stop
expansion
The Whiskey Rebellion
• 1791 – tax on sale and manufacture of
whiskey
• Violence July 1794
• Washington sent troops
• Sent clear message
Challenges in the West
• British and Spanish causing trouble between settlers and
Native Americans
• Washington signed treaties
– American settlers ignored treaties
– Fighting broke out
• Washington used force
• General Arthur St. Clair sent to Northwest Territory
• November 1791 - met strong Native American force led by
Little Turtle (Miami chief)
– More than 600 soldiers died
• worst defeat U.S. forces had ever suffered against
Native Americans
Challenges in the West (con’t)
• France involved on American side
– 1794 - British - destroy American settlements west of the
Appalachians
– Began building a fort in Ohio
• Settlers north of the Ohio River must leave
• Washington sent Anthony Wayne (Revolutionary War general)
• August 1794 - army defeated more than 1,000 Native
Americans
– Commander - Shawnee chief Blue Jacket
• Battle of Fallen Timbers – crushed hopes of keeping land
• Treaty of Greenville - agreed to surrender most of land in
present-day Ohio
Problems with Europe
• 1789 – French revolution
– Americans cheered in the beginning
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1793 - revolution turned terribly violent
Americans horrified
Public opinion divided
1793 - Britain and France war
Washington wanted U.S. to stay neutral
Washington Struggles to Stay Neutral
• French tried bring U.S. into conflict
• Edmond Genêt asked American volunteers to attack
British ships
• Washington issued Proclamation of Neutrality prohibited Americans from fighting in the war
– barred French and British warships from American ports
• Britain challenged desire for neutrality
• British captured American ships trading with French
• Forced American crews into the British navy –
IMPRESSMENT
– Americans outraged
Washington Struggles to Stay Neutral
• John Jay find solution with Britain
• Result was Jay's Treaty
– British agreed to withdraw from American soil
– No mention of impressment or British
interference with American trade
• Few Americans approved
• Washington felt it would end crisis
• Senate approved Jay's Treaty - close vote
Pickney’s Treaty with Spain
• Spanish leaders feared U.S. and Britain would
form partnership
• Thomas Pinckney sent to Spain
• 1795 - Pinckney's Treaty
– gave Americans free navigation of the Mississippi
River and right to trade at New Orleans
Washington Leaves Office
• Farewell Address
– Washington urged to "observe good faith and
justice toward all nations. . . . It is our true policy
to steer clear of permanent alliances"
• Influenced nation's foreign policy - more than
100 years
• Washington warned against political parties