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Washington Becomes President
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Washington Announces a Foreign Policy of Neutrality
Great Britain and France were fighting a war and both wanted the US to become involved. Washingron believed that the US did not have anything to gain and much to lose by entering the war and chose to make the US officially neutral. -
Jay's Treaty
This treaty between Great Britain and the United States was intended to end the British practice of ship seizures and impressment. It did not. -
Washington's Farewell Address
As Washington left the office of the President, he delivered a message to the American people about how to deal with other countries - be neutral and avoid "foreign entaglements." -
John Adams Becomes President
Federalist -
Alien and Sedition Acts Passed
Required immigrants to wait 14 years to become citizens and denied them basic rights. They punished newspaper editors who printed stories that criticized the government. These laws were written partly because of interference by France in American politics. -
Thomas Jefferson Becomes President
Democratic-Republican -
The Barbary Wars
The US began the fight against pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. Eventually wininning the right to trade freely in the area. -
Embargo Act of 1807
This law forbids trade with any foreign country. It is an attempt to get the British and French to stop impressments and ship seizures. It was repealed in 1809. -
James Madison Becomes President
Democratic-Republican -
The War of 1812 Begins
The U.S. declared war on Great Britain because of interference with trade, ship seizures and impressments, and inciting Indian attacks in the west. -
The War of 1812 Ends
Officially, the war ended in a tie. The U.S. gained much with the Treaty of Ghent, including an end to ship seizures and impressments. The U.S. also was able to trade more freely. -
James Monroe Becomes President
Democratic-Republican -
The Monroe Doctrine is Issued
Because of European interference in Latin America, Monroe issued a statement that said the U.S. would remain neutral unless Latin American countries were threatened. The nation became the guardian of the Western Hemisphere.
