American foreign policy timeline

  • Treaty of Alliance with France

    France and U.S. agreed to come to each others aid in event of British attack from the present time and forever; France joins war with Britain; treaty abrogated in 1800
  • Netherlands and the US

    Netherlands recognizes U.S. independence and signs treaty of commerce and friendship; Dutch bankers loan $2 million for war supplies
  • British and US Exports

    British allow trade with U.S. but forbid some U.S. food exports to West Indies; British exports to U.S. reach £3.7 million, imports only £750,000; imbalance causes shortage of gold in U.S.
  • Louisiana purchase

    Louisiana Purchase from France for $15,000,00
  • Declaration of war against Britain

    President James Madison calls for Declaration of War against Britain; causes are impressment, violation of neutral rights, support on hostile Indians in Northwest; War Hawks led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun support him, beginning the War of 1812.
  • Canadian rebels

    Caroline Affair; Canadian military enters U.S. territory to burn a ship used by Canadian rebels; U.S. vehemently protests
  • Nicaragua

    U.S. Navy forces the surrender of filibusterer William Walker, who had tried to seize control of the country.
  • Chinese exclusion act

    prevented Chinese laborers from entry; law was often circumvented by smugglers and "paper sons" using fake documents; repealed 1943
  • Mexican Revolution

    hundreds of thousands of refugees flee to US; Taft recognizes Madero regime; Madero assassinated by Huerta, not recognized by US
  • Korea

    Eisenhower warns China he will use nuclear weapons against it unless an armistice is signed; armistice is signed; uneasy truce continues for over 50 years