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Proclamation of Neutrality
A formal announcement issued by U.S. President George Washington declaring the nation neutral in the conflict between France and Great Britain and stated that the US would take no part in a war between two or more other powers, specifically France and Great Britain. This threatened legal proceedings against any American citizen giving assistance to any country at war. Washington issued it because the new nation of the us had a military that was too small to risk interaction with the countries. -
XYZ Affair
This was a diplomatic incident between French and United States diplomats that resulted in a limited, undeclared war known as the Quasi-War. U.S. and French negotiators restored peace with the Convention of 1800, also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaine. -
Convention of 1800
Also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaine, was a treaty between the United States of America and ended the Quasi-War between France and the United States. The Convention ended the alliance between France and the United States that had begun during the Revolution, but the two countries also extended "most-favored" trading status to each other. -
Louisiana Purchase
A land deal between the USand France, in which the U.S. acquired approximately 827,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million. What was known as Louisiana Territory stretched from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west and from the Gulf of Mexico in the south to the Canadian border in the North. 15 states were eventually created from the land deal. It is considered one of the top important achievements of Jefferson’s presidency. -
Embargo Act
Made any and all exports from the United States illegal; Sponsored by Jefferson and enacted by Congress. The goal was to force Britain and France to respect American rights. Both countries imposed trade restrictions, which had the effect of disrupting American trade and testing the United States' neutrality. Harassment by the British of American ships increased. Thomas Jefferson was faced with a decision to make regarding the situation at hand. In the end, he chose an economic option. -
War of 1812
The United States declared war against Great Britain. This was in response to some issues with Great Britain: the British economic blockade of France, the impressment of thousands of neutral American seamen into the British Royal Navy against their will, and the British support of hostile Indian tribes along the Great Lakes frontier. They also wanted Britain to stop arming the Indians. In -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812. The document was signed by British and American representatives. Terms of the treaty stated that all conquered territory was to be returned, and commissions were planned to settle the boundary of the United States and Canada. -
Monroe Doctrine
Delivered to Congress by President James Monroe. The doctrine declared against foreign colonization, or intervention in the Americas, and the intention of the United States to remain neutral in European wars. It stated the any European attempts to colonize in North or South America would be deemed acts of aggression. The main objective of US government was to secure the newly independent colonies of Latin America from European intervention and control.