The US and Europe
“Stuck in the Middle Again”
After colonial settlements were
established, North America became the
subject of competition between European
powers for at least 200 years.
During the period 1793-1815, Britain and
France were almost always at war. The
US found itself caught between the two
warring nations.
The European view: Either you’re with us or
you’re against us.
The French Revolution
Began in 1789 as an uprising against the
monarchy
 Became increasingly bloody
 By 1793, the guillotine was working
overtime and France was at war with the
rest of Europe.
 The US finds itself stuck in the middle

Washington Declares Neutrality
1793: Washington sees no good reason
why the US should enter the war on
behalf of either Britain or France.
 Federalists tend to prefer the British, while
Jeffersonians prefer the French.

British Reaction
Britain did not respect American neutrality
 Impressment
 Ship seizure
 Frontier troubles

Jay’s Treaty

Wikipedia: The British agreed to
vacate the western forts, and to
compensate American ship
owners. In return, the British
got most-favored-nation trading
status from the Americans. The
British refused to give any more
concessions, however, unless
the United States provided
compensation for the vast
amounts of Loyalist property
seized after the revolution. The
British also refused to allow
trade between the U.S. and the
Caribbean.
The French Respond
While Jay’s Treaty was quite weak, it was
enough to anger the French.
 The French felt that this US deal with
Britain was a violation of the FrancoAmerican Alliance of 1778.
 French ships began to seize hundreds of
American merchant ships.

XYZ Affair
John Adams felt stuck in the middle again.
His party wanted war with France, but he
wanted to follow Washington’s neutrality
policy.
 Adams sent 3 negotiators to France. The
French refused to meet with the
Americans unless they were granted a
loan and a bribe.
 Americans were outraged

Quasi War with France
From 1798-1800 the US fought an
undeclared naval war with France. This
mostly amounted to seizing each others’
ships.
 Adams never gave in to the pressure for a
full war with France.

From Revolution to Dictator
Napoleon Bonaparte
became the
revolutionary leader
of France from 17991804 and then
became the Emperor.
 Europe continued to
be at war.

Stuck in the Middle Again

As war continued to rage, the US
remained at odds with Britain and
France—neither nation respecting US
neutrality.
The Embargo
President Jefferson
and congress
responded by
prohibiting all US
exports in 1807.
 This failed to
persuade the
Europeans to respect
American neutrality.

Non-Intercourse Act

In 1809, the Non-Intercourse Act
reopened the US to trade with all nations
EXCEPT France & Britain. Still...the US
ships were seized by both the British and
French navies.
Macon’s Bill Number 2

Congress finally restored trade with all nations in
1812. However, if either Britain or France
stopped interfering with American trade, the US
would restore the embargo against the other
nation.

President Madison accepted an ambiguous offer
by the French to stop seizing American ships
and the US restored the embargo against
Britain. Leading to…
War of 1812
Eventually, after years of hostility war
between the US and Britain finally
reignited in 1812.
 After nearly 20 years of trying to maintain
its neutrality the US was finally drawn into
a full war with a European Power.
