Chapter 6
Section 2
Foreign Affairs
Trouble the Nation
OBJECTIVE:
UNDERSTAND the differences
between the Federalists
and the Jeffersonians
regarding
the French revolution
Republicans (Madison, Jefferson, et. al.)
wanted the US to support France and honor
the 1778 treaty of alliance with France.
Federalists (Hamilton, et al.) wanted the
US to support Britain.
Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation established an
American tradition of isolationism, but was
popular with no one: French, British, Federalists,
or Jeffersonians/Republicans.
Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation
SITUATION: Britain and France at war, again.
PROBLEM: Franco-American alliance of 1778
implies the US should side with France, but
Britain will retaliate against the new, weak US
and its merchant marine.
SOLUTION: Well….
Delay.
Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation established an American
tradition of isolationism, but was popular with no one: French, British,
Federalists, or the Jeffersonians/Republicans.
Edmond Genêt by Ezra Ames, 1809–1810
Edmond Genêt by Ezra Ames, 1809–
1810
Citizen Edmond Genêt's visit caused the
first major diplomatic crisis in the new
nation. His attempts to enlist Americans
in support of the French Revolution
raised troubling questions about the
international role of the United States.
(Collection of the Albany Institute of
History and Art. Bequest of George
Genêt.)
KEY IDEA:
Jefferson resigns
in 1793, frustrated with
Hamilton and the
administration’s policies
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Native Americans Resist White Settlers
1783 British operating frontier forts on US soil
1790: Gen. Harmar (US) defeated by Chief Little
Turtle and the Miami Indians
1791: Gen. St. Clair (US) defeated by the Miami
1794: Gen. Wayne (US) wins
Battle of Fallen Timbers against Miami Indians,
& proves the Miami were supported by British
arms/Canadians
1795: Treaty of Greenville, Indians cede Ohio to US
Jay’s Treaty & Pinckney’s Treaty
Jay’s Treaty:
Pinkney’s Treaty:
+ British pledge to evacuate US soil + Spain meets all of US
- They should have already done
demands
this in 1783
+ Spain concedes disputed land
- US bound to pay prein N. Florida to US
revolutionary accounts to Brit.
+Spain grants navigation rights
Merchants
on the Mississippi to
- Jeffersonian South would have to
Americans
pay the majority of these debts.
OVERALL: Positive Result
OVERALL: - Negative result
Treaty hurts Republicans,
Washington, & vitalizes the
Republican party
Growing Danger of Sectionalism
Election of 1796
Adams (Federalist) receives 71 electoral votes.
Jefferson (Republican) receives 68 electoral votes.
ALMOST ALL OF JEFFERSON’S VOTES COME FROM
THE SOUTH, ADAMS WINS ALMOST ALL OF HIS
VOTES IN THE NORTH.
Adams becomes President, Jefferson is Vice-President.
Is the new nation already coming apart?
XYZ Affair
• The French, enraged by Jay’s Treaty, abuse the
US ambassador.
• Adams sends 3 men, including John Marshall, to
France.
• French officials demand $250,000 bribe before
letting the Americans see Tallyrand.
• Americans refuse, go home.
• America authorizes a navy and the marine corps
is created.
• Federalists call for all out war. Instead, for 2
years each nation captures the others ships at sea
when they can.
Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798
Following the X,Y,Z Affair and the Genet Affair,
Federalists accuse Republicans of being
dangerous and disloyal.
Many immigrants are Republicans.
The Alien and Sedition Acts are passed:
1. increase naturalization req. from 5 to 14 years
2. allow the President to deport anyone he
considers “undesirable.”
3. Federalists use the acts to try and jail
Republican editors, writers, and politicians for
being “seditious.”
Congressional Pugilists, 1798
Congressional Pugilists, 1798
A cartoonist satirizes the fiercely partisan debates in Congress surrounding the Alien
and Sedition Acts. (Library of Congress)
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
The Republicans consider the Alien and Sedition Act to
be an assault on the First Amendment.
Jefferson and Madison draft a resolution in the Virginia
state Legislature declaring the Alien and Sedition Act
unconstitutional.
Virginia and Kentucky claim the right of nullification
= the power to declare null and void federal laws that go
beyond the powers granted to the federal government
by the Constitution.
ENDURING QUESTION:
WHO HAS THE LAST WORD?
STATES OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
French
Revolution
1789
???
Increasing Partisan Division
French
Revolution
Expansion to NW
Territories
Pinckney’s Treaty
Edmund Genet Affair
Battle of Fallen Timbers
Jay’s Treaty
Election of 1796
French
Revolution
Edmund Genet Affair
Battle of Fallen Timbers
Jay’s Treaty
Pinckney’s Treaty
Expansion to NW
Territories
Election of 1796
Increasing Partisan Division
Election of
1796
Alien and Sedition Acts
XYZ Affair
Tensions b/w
Federalists &
Republicans
VA & KY
Resolutions
Jefferson is Adam’s VP
Election of 1800
Increasing Partisan Division
Election of
1796
Jefferson is Adam’s VP
XYZ Affair
Tensions b/w
Federalists &
Republicans
Alien and Sedition Acts
VA & KY
Resolutions
Election of 1800
French
Revolution
1789
???