![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
1793 America's Proclamation of Neutrality
May. 21st, 2014 05:31 pmThe Proclamation of Neutrality was a formal announcement issued by George Washington April 22, 1793, declaring the nation neutral in the conflict between France and Great Britain. It threatened legal proceedings against any American providing assistance to any country at war.
-- Wikipedia
When the French declared war on Great Britain and the rest of Europe, President Washington and the United States was left in a delicate position. The French had only recently aided America in its own war of independence against Britain. Thomas Jefferson and the Antifederalists, moreover, were wholly allied in sentiment with the French revolution.
However, even Jefferson acknowledged that the new country was too young and undeveloped to wage war against either Britain or France. Yet, he urged Washington to hold back on making any official proclamation. Jefferson would not get his way.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Of this declaration, Henry Cabot Lodge later wrote, “There is no stronger example of the influence of the Federalists under the leadership of Washington upon the history of the country than this famous proclamation, and in no respect did the personality of Hamilton impress itself more directly on the future of the United States.” With the Neutrality Proclamation, Hamilton continued to define his views on American foreign policy: that it should be based on self-interest, not emotional attachment; that the supposed altruism of nations often masked baser motives; that individuals sometimes acted benevolently, but nations seldom did.
-- Ron Chernow, “Alexander Hamilton”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thomas Jefferson fussed to Monroe, “Hamilton is panicstruck if we refuse our breech to every kick which Great Britain may choose to give it.”
-- Wikipedia
When the French declared war on Great Britain and the rest of Europe, President Washington and the United States was left in a delicate position. The French had only recently aided America in its own war of independence against Britain. Thomas Jefferson and the Antifederalists, moreover, were wholly allied in sentiment with the French revolution.
However, even Jefferson acknowledged that the new country was too young and undeveloped to wage war against either Britain or France. Yet, he urged Washington to hold back on making any official proclamation. Jefferson would not get his way.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Of this declaration, Henry Cabot Lodge later wrote, “There is no stronger example of the influence of the Federalists under the leadership of Washington upon the history of the country than this famous proclamation, and in no respect did the personality of Hamilton impress itself more directly on the future of the United States.” With the Neutrality Proclamation, Hamilton continued to define his views on American foreign policy: that it should be based on self-interest, not emotional attachment; that the supposed altruism of nations often masked baser motives; that individuals sometimes acted benevolently, but nations seldom did.
-- Ron Chernow, “Alexander Hamilton”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thomas Jefferson fussed to Monroe, “Hamilton is panicstruck if we refuse our breech to every kick which Great Britain may choose to give it.”
