Challenges for the
New Nation
Key Terms
Use pages 205 - 211
 French Revolution
 Neutrality Proclamation
 Privateers
 Jay’s Treaty
 Pinckney’s Treaty
 Little Turtle
 Battle of Fallen Timbers
 Treaty of Greenville
 Whiskey Rebellion
Alliances or Neutrality?
 What is an alliance?
 What is neutrality?
 Which should the new nation choose? Why?
Neutrality and Treaties
 The French Revolution
 A rebellion of the French
people against their king
 The king was overthrown and
a republican government
was created
 Inspiration from the
American Revolution
 Became violent – riots and
beheadings
 The French had supported
the Americans in the
American Revolution – some
Americans thought we
should return the favor
What do you think?
Pair-Share with your neighbor
 Should the United States get involved in the French
Revolution? Why?
 What would be the consequences for the U.S. in the future
of the action you chose?
President Washington’s Answer
 The Neutrality
Proclamation
 The United States would not take
sides with any European countries
that were at war.
 Could he do this under the
Constitution? Was it in his power or
did Congress have to approve?
Settling Other Disputes
 The French Question
 Privateers and U.S. Neutrality
 Jefferson resigns as Secretary of State
 Jay’s Treaty
 Settled disputes that had arisen between the United States
and Great Britain in the early 1790’s
 Pinckney’s Treaty
 Settled border and trade disputes with Spain
Read pages 206 – 208 (The French Question, Jay’s Treaty, and
Pinckney’s Treaty) with a partner – add details to your notes.
You have 10 minutes.
Disputes at Home
 Northwest Territory
 Native American alliance backed by the British and led by
Chief Little Turtle
 The Whiskey Rebellion
 Problem – another tax!!
 Congress passed a tax on American made whiskey.
 Part of Hamilton’s plan to raise money to pay the
national debt and test the power of the federal govt.
Why Whiskey?
 Farmers had a hard time getting their grain to
market, so they turned their grain into whiskey,
which was easier to transport.
 They got more money for the whiskey anyway.
 Farmers traded the whiskey for salt, sugar, and
other goods.
 Farmers used whiskey as money to get whatever
supplies they needed.
 Farmers did not have the money to pay for the
tax.
The Rebellion
 In the summer of 1794, a group of farmers in Western
Pennsylvania rebelled against the whiskey tax and
staged the Whiskey Rebellion.
 One group beat up a tax collector and coated him with
tar and feathers.
The Government Responds
 Alexander Hamilton wanted the government to look
strong. He encouraged President Washington to stop the
revolt.
 Federal troops marched to Western Pennsylvania to put
down the revolt. Washington himself leads the troops.
 Washington had proved that the federal government
would deal with people not obeying the law.
Washington’s Farewell Message
to the Nation - 1796
Washington Warns Us
 He warned against forming permanent ties (alliances)
that could draw the U.S. into a foreign war
 He stated that political unity was needed – he warned
against political (party) disagreements
 He warned us against too much debt as this would
affect future generations
George Washington Goes Home