The development over time of the United States growing role in world affairs in our early years.
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Proclamation of Neutrality
The Proclamation of Neutrality was an official announcement made by President George Washington , declaring the United States a neutral nation in the conflict between Great Britain and France. -
XYZ Affair
President John Adams encountered a foreign issue of a different kind. In an effort to defuse tensions between the United States and France, he sent two American diplomats to meet with French officials. The French foreign minister sent three agents (designated “X,” “Y,” and “Z” by Americans) to demand a payment of money from the Americans before French officials would agree to meet with them. The United States saw this as bribery and it angered most Americans! -
Convection of 1800
Negotiations from the “XYZ Affair” eventually broke down and the relationship between the United States and France was less than friendly. It was not until a peace agreement known as the Convention of 1800 was signed that peace was restored between the two nations. -
Louisiana Purchase
President Jefferson is best remembered as the author of our Declaration of Independence. However, he also had a major impact on American foreign policy. In 1803 he purchased the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon of France. Although he had misgivings as to whether or not the President had constitutional authority to buy land for our government, this $15 million dollar purchase doubled the size of the United States! -
Embargo Act
In an effort to keep the U.S. out of foreign troubles in 1807, President Jefferson asked Congress to pass the Embargo Act. The act essentially stopped trade between the United States and two warring nations: France and Great Britain. Unfortunately, the Embargo Act was a disaster for the American economy. Although not planned, halting our trade with other nations created an economic hardship for the United States. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was an military conflict between the United States and the British. Because Canada was a British colony back then, Canadians were also British allies. The Americans opposed to the British Empire restricting their trade and snatching their sailors to serve on British ships. -
Treaty of Ghent
The peace treaty, the Treaty of Ghent, was signed in December of 1814. It ended the war without presenting any gains for either side. It basically returned to each side the territory it had possessed before the beginning of the war and said nothing about impressments. -
Monroe Doctrine
With the end of the War of 1812 the United States entered a period of national pride known as the Era of Good Feelings. During this time period, James Monroe was President. The Monroe Doctrine stated that the United States would not tolerate European intervention in the affairs of any independent nation in the Americas. The Monroe Doctrine also stated that the Americas were no longer open to colonization and that the United States would view such attempts as an act of aggression
