challenging american expansion 1789-1792

Challenging American Expansion 1789-1792

Appalachians to Mississippi RiverSpain, Britain, U.S. and many Indian Nations wanted control of regionAll considered the region important Native Americans considered the region as homeland

SoutheastSpain clamed area (today’s Alabama, Mississippi, and Western TennesseeLand also claimed by U.S.Spain could not stop settlers from U.S. from moving into the territoryOffered Spanish citizenship to win allegiance


SoutheastCongress seemed like it might consider the permanent closing of New Orleans in return for other Spanish concessions in other regionsMany westerners began talking openly of secessionMany only accepted gold and favors from Spanish to pocket the profitsAndrew Jackson, 1789 – “the only immediate way to obtain peace with the Savage” (Indians).


SoutheastWashington realized he may not be able to preserve peace

Prepared for war, hoping for continued peace1789 - Peace seemed more likely. Spain opened New Orleans to American commerce.

Exports were subject to 15% dutySuccession sentiment slowly died

Well known political figures were subject to bribery during this period of history


Southeast Well known political figures were subject to bribery during this period of history

James Wilkinson, former general on Washington’s staff received bribes from the SpanishThomas Scott, congressman from western Pennsylvania schemed with British

Hoping to strengthen loyalty to U.S., between 1791 and 1796 three new states were admitted to the union; Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee.


Southeast Weakening Spanish Influence

Washington wanted to improve relations with Native Americans and weaken Spain’s influence1790 Creeks signed treaty of New York with U. S.

Permitted American settlers to remain on lands in Georgia Piedmont fought over since 1786Preserved Creek territory against U. S. expansionWashington insisted that Georgia restore to the Chickasaws and Choctaws, the area along the Mississippi River known as the Yazoo Tract


Britain’s Indian allies in the Ohio valleyWashington’s policy much more harsh1790 Military force used to force peace

It failed, General Josiah Harmar was defeated on the Maumee River by native AmericansNovember 1791, Disaster occurred when one thousand warriors killed nine hundred out of fourteen hundred soldiers led by General Arthur St. Clair

Benevolence Policy similar to the British Policy proclaimed in 1763 (Secretary of War, Henry Knox)

Chaos in west – trespassers invaded Indian landsNative peoples rejected U.S. claims to sovereignty


Indian LandsIndian Non-Intercourse Act, 1790

Regulating tradeGovernment also wanted to “civilize” the natives

Abandon communal landownership and seasonal migrations for hunting, gathering, and fishing. Adopting private property and an agricultural way of life,

Secretary of War Henry Knox thought that Indians would join American society while making much additional land available for whites.Natives wanted European material goods, but would not give up traditional waysWhites were equally opposed to integrating Native Americans into their society


Indian LandsAfter being defeated twice by Native forces, Washington’s western policy was a disaster.1792 Spain convinced Creek nation to void Treaty of New York with U. S.Americans believed that only an alliance with France could counter balance the combined strength of Spain, Britain, and Native American forces.

France and Factional Politics, 1793French Revolution begins 1789Americans remained fundamentally sympathetic to Revolution

France abolished noble privilegeWrote a constitutionRepelled invading armies from Austria and PrussiaBecame a Republic in 1793

France proclaimed a war of all peoples against all Kings

Assumes U. S. would enlist

France and Factional Politics, 1793French Revolution begins 1789Southern Slave owners support revolution

1793 slave uprising in Saint Domingue became a revolution against French ruleMany fled to U. S. British invaders had supported uprisingBlacks had been inspired by the U. S. and French Rev.Remembering the courting of slaves by British during Am. Rev. southern whites believed British had intentionally started the blood bath and would do the same in the SouthFederalist loyalty even dissipated due to anti-British feelings in S. Carolina

France and Factional Politics, 1793French Revolution begins 1789Northerners repelled by the blood shed

Protestant New England detested the French government’s punishing its opponents and its substituting the adoration of Reason for the worship of GodMid-Atlantic Federalists condemned French leaders as evil radicals

Incited the poor against the rich

France and Factional Politics, 1793French Revolution begins 1789Northern and Southern Reaction to French RevolutionEconomic Reasons

North – almost all of the nation’s foreign trade was with Great Britain

Merchants, shippers, and sailors in New England, Philadelphia, and New York feared an alliance with France would provoke British retaliation against this valuable commerce

Southerners viewed Americans’ reliance on British commerce as a menace to national self-determination and wished to divert most U. S. trade to France

France and Factional Politics, 1793French Revolution begins 1789Northern and Southern Reaction to French RevolutionJefferson and Madison demanded British imports be reduced

Steep discriminatory duties on cargoes shipped from England and Scotland in British vessels.Federalist opponents warned that Britain would not stand by while a weak French ally pushed it into depression.

Hamilton (1792) – If congress adopts this program “there will be in less than six months, an open war between the U. S. and G. B.”

France and Factional Politics, 1793French Revolution begins 1789Southern and Western support for France grows after France goes to war with Spain and Great Britain in 1793

French victory might lead to a cease in blocking of U. S. Expansion by Great Britain and SpainU. S. could gain free navigation of the MississippiForce the evacuation of the British garrisons, End both nations’ support of Indian resistance

France and Factional Politics, 1793French Revolution begins 1789Declaration of war from France in 1793 against Great Britain

French sent Edmond Genet as minister to the United StatesOrdered to mobilize republican sentiment in support of FranceEnlist American mercenaries to conquer Spanish territories and attack British shippingStrengthen the alliance between the two nations

Pres. Washington issued a proclamation of American neutrality on April 22

France and Factional Politics, 1793French Revolution begins 1789Citizen Genet arrived April 8

Found many southern volunteers for his American Foreign Legion (despite declared neutrality)General George Rogers Clark of KentuckyGeneral Elisha Clarke of GeorgiaBoth ordered to seize Spanish garrisons at New Orleans and St. AugustineFrench failed to send funds for either campaign (soldiers were not willing to fight for free)

France and Factional Politics, 1793French Revolution begins 1789Citizen Genet arrived April 8

Genet did not need funds for PrivateersCaptured plunder for themselvesSummer of 1793 almost a thousand Americans were at sea in a dozen ships flying the French flag These privateers seized more than eighty British vessels and towed them to U. S. portsFrench consuls sold the ships and cargoes at auction

France and Factional Politics, 1793Avoiding War, 1793-1796

Washington’s administration closed the nation’s harbors to Genet’s buccaneers

Also requested the recall of French AmbassadorGeorge III on November 6, 1793, with the Privy Council issued secret orders confiscating any foreign ships trading with French islands in the Caribbean.

Purposefully delayed the announcement of orders so that American ships would already be at sea and not know that they were sailing into a war zone.Royal Navy seized more than 250 American vessels.


Impressment – forced enlistment of crewmen on U. S. ships.Commanders sometimes broke royal orders by taking U. S. citizensBritish did not recognize former subjects’ right to adopt American citizenshipImpressment was a test for the new government. Would it defend its citizens from abuse?


Fort Miami During a large intertribal council in February 1794,a speech was given by Canada’s Royal Governor denying U. S. claims north of the Ohio River British troops were building an eight garrison on U. S. soil, Fort Miami. (near present day Toledo)Spain built Fort San Fernando in 1794 near what is now Memphis, Tennessee.


Washington’s 3 Initiatives to halt war in 1794He authorized General Anthony Wayne to negotiate a treaty with the Shawnees and their Ohio valley alliesSent Chief Justice John Jay to Great BritainDispatched Thomas Pinckney to Spain


Washington’s 3 Initiatives to halt war in 17941. Response to offer for peace treaty

Indians scoffed at Washington’s offer (had previously defeated the U. S. troops)“Mad Anthony” Wayne led 3,500 U. S. troops deep into Shawnee homeland

Built FortsBurned every village within his reach

August 20, 1794 Wayne’s troops defeated four hundred Shawnees at the Battle of Fallen Timbers just two miles from British Fort Miami.Wayne’s troops then built Fort Defiance

Indian morale plummeted


Washington’s 3 Initiatives to halt war in 17941. Response to offer for peace treaty

August 1795 Shawnee and eleven other tribes signed the Treaty of Greenville with Wayne

Opened modern day Ohio and a portion of Indiana to white settlement and ended U. S. – Indian hostilities in the region for 16 yearsTecumseh knew the battle for land was not over


Washington’s 3 Initiatives to halt war in 17942. John Jay’s TreatyJohn Jay was able to win a British promise to withdraw troops from American soil. (Wayne’s victories helped)Gained access to West Indian markets for small American shipsLost U. S. rights to load cargoes of sugar, molasses, and coffee from French colonies during wartime.Few felt treaty preserved peace with honor


Washington’s 3 Initiatives to halt war in 17942. John Jay’s TreatyLeft Britain free to violate American neutralityLeft Britain free to ruin a profitable commerce by restricting U.S. trade with FranceDid not end impressmentSlave owners had wanted compensation for slaves taken during the Revolution1795 Treaty Ratified by just 1 vote


Washington’s 3 Initiatives to halt war in 17942. John Jay’s TreatyTreaty prevented war from being inevitable Ended Britain’s post-Revolutionary occupation of U.S. territory.Expanded American trade (British governors in the West Indies open their harbors to U.S. ships)Commercial ties with India were opened (infringed on East India company monopoly)Soon after 1795, American exports to the British Empire increased 300%


Washington’s 3 Initiatives to halt war in 17943.Treaty of San Lorenzo with Spain or Pinckney’s Treaty, ratified 1796

Won unrestricted rights to world marketDuty-free access to world markets via the MississippiSpain promised to recognize the 31st parallel as the U.S. southern boundarySpain would dismantle all fortifications on American soil, Discourage Indian attacks against western settlers


Washington’s 3 Initiatives to halt war in 1794By 1796 Washington admin. Could claim extension of American authority throughout the trans-Appalachian WestOpened the Mississippi for western exportsEnabled Northeastern shippers to regain British markets, Kept the nation out of a dangerous European warJay’s Treaty shown a light on division in nation’s foreign policy (more divided in 1789 than in 1796).

challenging american expansion 1789-1792

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