Americas Growing Pains :: essays research papers

the Statess first two pre berthnts, George Washington and John Adams, both decisivelyadhered to the idea that America should endeavor to stay out of war at all times, and dideverything in their power to evade declaring and entering into war. Throughout theirreigns, war was ubiquitous in Europe, and many countries (especially Britain and France)made numerous attempts to obtain and fearless Americas support. Washington andAdams both believed that America should not side with any foreign country during timesof war making the native purport of Americas first foreign policy the mooring ofwar at all costs. This policy was manifested throughout Washington and Adams familiarity in, and reactions to the following affairs the Citizen genet controversy, theJay Treaty, and the XYZ Affair. One of Washingtons sign attempts to pursue this policy was his counteractionto the genet Affair. In 1793, George Washington proclaimed neutrality, thus declaringAmerica an uninvolved, nonpartisan countr y in times of war. Simultaneously, EdmondCharles Genet was sent to the United States as a special representative from France to plead support in the french Revolution. Genet had previously resolved that theannunciation of neutrality was a harmless little pleasantry designed to wee-wee dust in theeyes of the British. Commencing in Charleston, South Carolina, Genet traveledthroughout the United States presenting his credentials. In addition to his quest forsupport, he began to license American vessels to operate as privateers against Britishshipping and to break French military commissions to a number of Americans in order to mug up expeditions against Spanish and British territorial claims in North America. These two actions were in direct defilement of American law. Washington demandedthat he cease his culpable actions, but Genet continued to commission privateers becausehe enticed the public opinion. This casualty is a lucid manifestation of Washingtonsample efforts to empty war. Genet had copiously essayed to obtain American support inthe French Revolution, and in accordance with Americas foreign policy, Washingtonvehemently resisted any involvement in war. In an attempt to deplete the nemesis ofAmericans supporting the French, he avowed that Genet would be expelled. Washingtons reaction to this controversy verified his foreign policy by show that hewas willing to avoid war at all costs, correct if alliances were broken and foreign relationswere damaged. In addition to Washingtons response to the Genet affair, he further strived toavert involvement in war by signing the Jay Treaty. This treaty was written to preventwar with Britain, but concurrently it strained Americas relationship with France bygoing against their alliance.