American Revolution Dbq

When the wave of American Revolution was going on around Europe and around the world, the Federalists split into two factions over their contrasting vision about the programs to guide the new republic. Due to this, the foreign policies of the United States had to face several critiques from its own citizens during the Federalist Era (1789-1801). The foreign affairs of the Federalist Era was shaped by the French Revolution and other subsequent war between British and France. Clearly, the ideological differences between the prominent political leaders divided the American into two factions.

Most American had welcomed the French Revolution of 1789, because it abolished feudalism and established a constitutional monarchy. Monarchy and privilege were overthrown in the name of

Yet, American ships continued to trade between the French West Indies and France carrying primarily grains, sugar and other foodstuffs. In 1794, England expressed displeasure of the limited American interpretation of neutrality by capturing more than three hundred of these ships in the vicinity of West Indies. This led to a different crisis, and it was addressed by signing a negotiation, the Jay treaty, between U.S and England.

On the other hand, France felt being betrayed by the so called “Neutrality” and its agreement with England, for France had helped America substantially during the American Revolution, and the confederated government had signed an alliance in 1778 promising aid if France were ever under attack.

In the election of 1796, Federalist obtained majority in the congress and John Adams became the president. Adam’s continued Hamilton’s pro-British foreign policy and strongly criticized French seizures of American merchant Ships. As a result, the growing tensions between U.S and France heightened further; the XYZ affair and the Quazi-war (1798-1800) were the immediate