DIPLOMATIC
NATIONALISM
Young America Asserts Itself in World Affairs
1797-1823
WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL ADDRESS
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Washington’s final legacy to the young
republic was his Farewell Address
(published in 1796), in which he warned
against both political factionalism and
“foreign entanglements”
Washington’s advice has often been
used (wrongly) by American isolationists
to justify restraining America’s overseas
activities and commitments
Washington foresaw a time when the
U.S. would become a great power but
also knew that, until then, it needed to
time to grow and prosper unmolested by
foreign powers and the temptation to
adventurism on the part of some
Would Americans follow his advice?
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THE QUASI-WAR WITH FRANCE (1798)
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As war continued in Europe, Britain and
France failed to respect American neutrality
on the high seas, seizing ship cargoes and
impressing sailors (even some U.S. citizens)
U.S. efforts to negotiate with the French
resulted in the XYZ Affair (1797), in which
the French demanded a bribe before they
would even speak with American diplomats
Resulting furor at home led to an undeclared
naval war with France (Quasi-War of 1798)
and creation of the U.S. Navy and Marines
by President John Adams (Federalist)
Washington and Hamilton were even called
upon to lead a revived “wartime” army
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THE ALIEN & SEDITION ACTS (1798)
Federalists in Congress and President Adams responded to
Republican criticisms and suspected disloyalty with passage of
the Alien & Sedition Acts.
Republicans responded with the Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions
(1798) asserting states’ rights to protect their citizens against
tyrannical federal authority
Contributed to Federalist defeat in the Election (“Revolution”) of
1800, in which Republicans took over control of Congress and
Jefferson defeated Adams for the presidency
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JEFFERSON DIPLOMACY
Despite his views on limited executive power
Jefferson pursued an activist foreign policy:
1801: He ordered a naval squadron to compel the
Barbary Pirates (Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli) to halt their extortion of
American vessels; by 1805, these states agreed to a treaty favorable
to the U.S., the operation impressed European states
1803: Louisiana Purchase made possible by Napoleon’s desire for
ready cash, ($15 Million) and Jefferson’s realization that the deal
was too good to pass up (Strict interpretation of the Constitution)
Result: Doubles the size of the United States and Lewis and Clark
go west to explore and make first U.S. claim to Oregon.
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AMERICAN NEUTRALITY UNDER THREAT
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With the start of the Napoleonic Wars (1805), British and
French naval vessels resumed impressment of American sailors
and seizure of cargoes bound for enemy ports
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Jefferson’s response was the ill-advised Embargo Act (1807) that
halted all trade with foreign nations in the expectation that
Britain and France would be compelled to desist and agree to
negotiate with the U.S. (New England was particularly upset)
Madison (Jefferson’s hand-picked successor) realized the
Embargo act hurt US more than Britain and France. Passed
the Non-Intercourse Act, which opened up trade with everyone
except Britain and France
James Madison signed Macon’s Bill #2 (1810) stating that, if
either Britain or France agreed to respect American rights, the
U.S. would cut off trade with the other country
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France agreed and the U.S. cut off trade with Britain in 1811,
thus prompting a British blockade of U.S. ports
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OTHER ISSUES TO DEAL WITH
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Meanwhile, back on the trans-Appalachian
frontier, Native Americans (led by such
tribes as the Shawnee and Creek), resisted
westward settlement by American pioneers
Britain supplied the Shawnee leader,
Tecumseh, with money and weapons
1811 -- Battle of Tippecanoe: General
William Henry Harrison defeated
Tecumseh
Newly-elected “War Hawks” in Congress,
such as Henry Clay of Kentucky and John
C. Calhoun of South Carolina, called for
an invasion of Canada to break the back of
the British-Native American alliance
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THE WAR OF 1812
Congress declared war on Britain on June 18,
1812; Madison called up the army
“Mr. Madison’s War” (the Federalists called it)
was a comedy of errors that almost resulted
in defeat:
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Attempted invasions of Canada failed
miserably
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Tecumseh wreaked havoc on the NW
frontier, until defeated by Harrison (again)
in late 1813
III.
British expeditionary force captured
Washington and burned the White House
and the Capitol (1814)
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THE WAR OF 1812
Battle of Fort McHenry – British
bombard Baltimore, MD
--Francis Scott Key -- wrote The
Star Spangled Banner after the
Battle of Fort McHenry
Dec. 1814 -- Treaty of Ghent secured
British recognition of American
Interests and helped ensure survival
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i. Hostilities cease
ii. All borders go back to pre-war
status
iii. All land returned to original
owners
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1815 – Battle of New
Orleans – Jackson defeated
the British.
Jackson became a hero
Battle militarily insignificant
because the war is already
over
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DIPLOMATIC CONSOLIDATION
John Quincy Adams, who had helped to negotiate the Treaty
of Ghent, served as President Monroe’s Secretary of State
(1817-1825) and masterminded an American diplomatic
revolution.
He helped to protect U.S. long-term interests by negotiating
three major treaties (& helping to initiate long-term peace
with UK):
1. Rush-Bagot Treaty (1817) demilitarized the Great Lakes.
2. British-American Convention (1818) set the boundary between
the U.S. and Canada (at the 49th parallel) and created the longest
unguarded border in the world.
3. Adams-Onis Treaty (1819) – Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. in
exchange for defined boundaries in the west and abandonment of
the U.S. claim to Texas (right).
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MONROE DOCTRINE
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Latin America was in the process of gaining
independence from Spain; European powers threatened
to reassert control in the Western Hemisphere
Adams also helped to formulate the Monroe Doctrine
(1823) that established our policy with regard to Latin
America; no foreign intervention in the affairs of the
Western Hemisphere.
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Isolation (US will not intervene in European Wars)
Non-Intervention (Europeans were to keep their hands off the
Americas)
Significance/Effects- Americans will cite the Monroe
Doctrine in future issues of Foreign Policy
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