George Washington Balance Sheet
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Assets
Great Moral Character
Man of virtue
Leadership skills
Charismatic
Gentleman
Impartial and Unbiased
No self-interest
Flair for the dramatic
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Liabilities
No formal education
Not a military genius
Sensitive to criticism
Volatile temper
Cold, unemotional
Detailed/Control Freak
Averse to fame—vanity?
Analysis of Washington
1. Exceptional leader
--Deferred to his assistants
(TJ v AH)
--Visionary who helped form
the new republic
2. Precedent of the President
--Dominance of the
Executive Branch
in Foreign Affairs
(Jay’s Treaty)
 Minority factions can
protest peacefully, but
cannot take up arms
(Whisky Rebellion)
 Idea of national
independence and a
warning against
political factionalism
(Farewell Address)
Foreign Policy
Survival (1783-1814)
•Existence of America was in Jeopardy
•9 elements of National Power
in 1792, the United States had 0
Military Capacity
--600 man army, Navy of 3 ships
National Morale
--country divided on the constitution and
political party
•Events
Northwest Indian War
1791—”Bloodiest American Battle”, General Arthur
St. Clair, 700 Americans killed
1794—”Mad” Anthony Wayne and the Battle of
Fallen Timbers
1795—Treaty of Greenville
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Relations with France
Neutrality Proclamation (1793)
Washington says we are going to stay out of
Europe’s Wars
Demonstrated tensions between TJ and AH
Withdrawal from the Franco-American Alliance
Alliance signed in 1778 to provide for help with
Revolutionary War
Was to last 20 years, lasted 15
Relations with Great Britain
 Seizure of ships by the British
 Jay’s Treaty (1794)—Britain leave the Forts in
the NW, we pay back our debts, very unpopular
Relations with
Spain
 Pinckney
Treaty (1795)—
port of N.O.
Ended the
Florida border
dispute
Opened the
port of N.O. to
American
Ships
Washington’s Farewell Address
•Spirit of the address was directed at creating an
independent nation with a distinctively American
and republican character
•Take the middle ground in American politics and
foreign policy (no factions and neutrality)
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•“Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent
alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”
Misinterpreted that he was preaching Isolation
Young nation needed time to mature
It was in our national interest to allow this to
happen
•Isolationist view reflected in the U.S. being a
reactive nation:
Mexican-American War?
Spanish-American War?
World War I?
World War II?
Korean War?
Vietnam War?
Afghanistan?
Iraq?
North Africa?