9.2 Early Challenges
Layout
Part 1 (1 day): Conflict at Home
• Whiskey Rebellion
• NW territory conflict
Part 2 (2 days): Conflict with Europe
• French Revolution
• British Impressment
• Washington’s Legacy
The Whiskey Rebellion
• 1791, Congress imposed a tax on all whiskey
made and sold in the USA
• Hamilton hoped it would help ease debt
• Farmers and common people compared it to
the tea tax from Britain and thought it was
oppressive
• Became a violent protest known as the Whiskey
Rebellion
– Washington sent 13,000 militia to put down the rebellion and
they scattered
Significance of the Whiskey Rebellion
• Why was the Whiskey Rebellion important?
• Demonstrated the federal government’s legitimacy and
strength
• Whiskey Rebellion Video Clip
Conflict in the Northwest territory
• Context: Settlers were
moving into the
Northwest Territory
that had been won
from the British as of
1783.
• The British had
promised to leave, but
a decade later, they
were still there and
supplying American
Indians with firearms
to harass settlers
Conflict in the Northwest territory
• Americans viewed the
settling of this territory as a
necessary step in building
America’s long term power
• The Gov had purchased a lot
of land in this area
(Kentucky and Tennessee)
from Native Americans in
the past, but the N.A. in the
Northwest Territory refused
to sell.
Conflict in the Northwest territory
• 1790s- Washington sent a
military force to engage
the American Indians who
were attacking settlers
• Native Americans won the
first two attempts at
removal (Little Turtle of
Miami and Blue Jacket of
Shawnee),
• Third try: Washington sent
Anthony Wayne, a
Revolutionary War hero.
Conflict in the Northwest territory
• Anthony Wayne led the third attack against the
Native Americans
• Won the Battle of Fallen Timbers in August of 1794
» This was the battle that broke the Native American hold on the
Northwest
• Treaty of Grenville 1795
» Native Americans lost their territory that is now most of the state
of Ohio
9.2 Day 2- Conflict with Europe
Part 2 Day 1:
• Introducing the French Revolution
Part 2 Day 2:
• America reacts to the FR


British Impressment
Washington’s Legacy
DO NOW day
1:
I see, I think, I
wonder
Important Questions
• What was the French Revolution?
• What were the two American perspectives
regarding the French Revolution and the
French conflict with Great Britain?
What is foreign policy?
• a policy pursued by a nation in its dealings wit
h other nations,
designed to achieve national objectives.
• What was going on at the time?
– Expansion into American Indian occupied
Northwest Territory
– FRENCH REVOLUTION (today’s focus)
Summary of French Revolution?
• The French Revolution was the popular
overthrow of the French King Louis XVI.
– The Revolution spiraled out of control and became
very divisive in France.
– The Revolutionaries who had seized the
government had the idea to unite the country by
fighting a war with Britain.
Two views on the FR emerge in US
• Two views: (two
political parties)
1. Democratic
Republican view
•
Support the
French, not the
British
2. Federalist view
•
Support the
British, not the
French
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN VIEW OF
FRENCH REVOLUTION
• Republicans like Jefferson thought that the
American Revolution and the French Revolution
were one and the same cause.
• They thought liberty was a global cause, not
exclusive to one nation’s independence.
• Republicans side with the idea of liberty as it is
represented within the revolutionary French state
in contrast to the order that Great Britain
represents.
• Idealistic rather than practical.
• Video
FEDERALIST VIEW OF FRENCH
REVOLUTION
• Tied to Federalist preference of Great Britain as a
governing role model
– Federalists favored an alliance with Great Britain as the
nation that was most likely to promote commerce and
investment in the United States
– Federalists also believed that the government of Great
Britain stood as a strong model of constitutional order, as
opposed to what they saw as the radicalism of the French
Revolution.
– Again, we see Federalists side with the idea of ORDER as it
is represented within the state of Great Britain, as opposed
to the unpredictability of France.
– Practical rather than idealistic.
The French revolution takes a turn for
the worst
• When the French
Revolution became
excessively violent, many
Americans turned from
supporting it
• This period is known as the
“Reign of Terror”
– Over 40,000 people who
were accused of not being
committed to the revolution
were sent to the guillotine
from 1793-1794
• Drained support for French
Revolution in the US
Reign of Terror
What was Washington's policy
regarding the French revolution
• Video
• Like most Federalists (Hamilton, Adams, etc),
Washington wanted to stay free of foreign
alliances especially regarding France.
• He did not want to anger Britain by siding with
France.
• The French argued that their alliance was still
valid. Washington disagreed, saying the alliance
was made with the former King and therefore
nullified when they killed him.
France declares war on Britain and
several other European states, 1793
• Included Holy Roman Empire, Spain, Portugal,
Dutch Republic
• France declared war on these European
powers in an effort to UNITE THE FRENCH
POPULATION
• Many French opposed the Revolution and new
government.
• The new government thought a foreign war would
unite the nation
How does America respond?
• France wants the US to
join the French side, but
US, under Washington
wants to remain neutral
• US wants to continue
trading with both French
and British
• British and French both
feared the US trading
with their enemy
• Both sides began
seizing American ships
Seizing of American Ships
• British and French both seized American ships
in an effort to stop the trading
• British began a policy of impressment
• Impressment- seizing the sailors and forcing them to
serve in the British Navy
• Hamilton urged peace with Brtiain
» British purchased 75% of American exports, 90%
American imports
» John Jay was sent to make a treaty with Britain to protect
relations
The Jay Treaty
• The Jay Treaty with Britain 1795
• US agreed to pay debts long owed to Britain
• Britain agreed to pay for the ships they seized
• Agreed to withdraw troops from Northwest Territory and
stop aiding Native Americans
• Britain refused to:
» Stop impressing sailors
» Recognize US right to trade with France
The Jay Treaty
• Treaty was ratified but
was received with
mixed emotions
• On one hand, it did
not get Britain to stop
impressing US sailors
– However, its success
was that it solidified
US trade relations
with Britain which
were very important
for the recovering
economy.
Jay Treaty/ Pinckney Treaty
• Jay Treaty preserved relations with Britain.
• Spain became worried US and GB would work
together against Spanish colonies of Florida and
Louisiana.
• US sent Thomas Pinckney to smooth things over.
– 1795 Pinckney Treaty- Gave US free navigation of
Mississippi River and the right to trade at New Orleans
– Good for economy and relations with Spain
Washington’s Farewell Speech
• Warned against:
1. Entangling Alliances (preached isolationism)
2. Political Parties
Washington’s Achievements and
legacy
• 1. Washington created a strong federal government
with credibility and authority
• 2. The economy was improving due to Hamilton’s plan
• 3. Washington avoided foreign conflicts and wars
• AVOID ENTANGLING ALLIANCES
• ENTANGLING: cause to become twisted together with or caught in.
• How might alliances or conflicts be entangling?
• 4. The British had been forced to leave their forts in the
Northwest Territory, an area that was now safe for
settlement.