-
Period: to
George Washington's Presidency
-
Proclamation of Neutrality
George Washington issued the Proclamation of Neutrality on April 22, 1793. The Proclamation said that the US wouldn't take part in any war between two countries, specifically England and France. -
Jay's Treaty
Foreign Ambassador John Jay negotiated a treaty with Britain to attempt to stop the seizure of American ships. Because America had little leverage for a good deal, Britain profited more from the trade deal and kept up the impressment of American sailors into the British navy. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Charles Pinckney went to Spain to negotiate border relations and control of the Mississippi River. The United States came out on top in the relations, in that they gained access to the Mississippi River and westward expansion became easier without them forming any alliances (Pinckney refused to form an alliance with Spain as part of the negotiations). -
Period: to
Thomas Jefferson's Presidency
-
Louisiana Purchase
In order to pay for the war with Britain, Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to Jefferson. -
Barbary Wars
After numerous attempts for peace with the Pasha of Tripoli, whose Corsairs kept attacking American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean, Jefferson organized the navy and sent it to Tripoli, where they engaged in pestering Tripoli until it gave in to American demands and made peace. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Jefferson sent a group of men including Meriweather Lewis and William Clark to explore the newly ceded Louisiana Territory and try to incorporate Native Americans into America's culture. -
The Embargo Act
A failed attempt by Thomas Jefferson to stop the seizure of American vessels by Britain and France by making trade with either illegal. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
A failed US-backed invasion by Cuban revolutionaries to try to overthrow the Castro regime and end communism in Cuba. -
Vienna Summit
A meeting between President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev discussing policy about Laos, Berlin, and Cuba. Nothing much was accomplished, and Kennedy felt that Khrushchev had beat him up in negotiations. -
Berlin Wall
Looking to stop mass defections from East Berlin into West Berlin, the Berlin Wall hoped to make it so that the Communist-held part of Germany didn't lose population. Before the building of the wall Kennedy had stated that "any attack on West Berlin would be regarded as a direct attack on the US." When the wall was built, Kennedy sent a convoy of military troops to show West Berlin that America still supported them. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
After Soviets sent missiles to Cuba that had the potential to reach America, Kennedy put a military blockade that would inspect all Soviet ships going to and from Cuba. After two letters, both of which came to nothing, and a possible agreement to both back down and cool off, which Kennedy disagreed to, Khrushchev eventually agreed to dismantle the missile sites. The US publicly promised to never invade Cuba and took down nuclear missiles that they put in Italy and Turkey a while before.
