The Anglo-American Rapprochement, The Transcontinental Treaty Of

The Anglo-American Rapprochement, the Transcontinental Treaty, and the Monroe Doctrine all contributed to the achievements in American foreign policy from 1814 to 1823. The Anglo-American Rapprochement was a time of compromise and passive diplomatic decision making. Some of the achievements made during the Angle-American Rapprochement were the signing of a commercial convention making trade favorable for all parties involved, and the settling of the long unresolved boundary between the United States and Canada without the need for war. Also the agreement between the British and the United States in regards to the rearming of fleets on the great lakes. They agreed on one 100-ton vessel armed with an 18 pounder on lakes Champlain and Ontario, and two at all of the other great lakes. This demilitarization of the great lakes soon led to a demilitarization of the entire boarder. Lastly at the convention of 1818, Britain and the United states decided on the 49th Parallel as the northern boundary of the Louisiana Territory.

Following the successes of the Anglo-American Rapprochement, the Transcontinental Treaty of 1819 also had major achievements on American foreign policy.

After President Monroe ordered General Andrew Jackson to clear the Seminole Indians from American land with the instructions to pursue them into Florida if needed, Jackson entered Florida and seized two Spanish forts with ease. Although Jackson withdrew his troops from Florida, the Spanish knew that if they didn’t do something, they would lose control of a large piece of territory. Therefore, Spanish minister Luis De Onis began to negotiate a treaty with John Quincy Adams (Monroe’s secretary) and the two eventually came to an agreement on a boundary that followed the Sabine, Red, and Arkansas Rivers to the continental divide and the 42nd Parallel, and the United States finally gained the Florida

Territory.
Lastly, The Monroe Doctrine was yet another achievement in the development of American foreign policy. Due to the interest of Alaska by Russia with exploration south to the 51st parallel, as well as European monarchial interest in Latin America, President Monroe issued a statement saying “The American continents are no longer subjects for any new European colonial establishments”. In 1824 the Russians signed a treaty with the United States vacating any rights they may have had below the southern limit of Alaska and getting rid of the restrictions they had placed on trade. To solve the issues with European interest in Latin America, George Canning, suggested that the United States and Britain both issue a statement of joint opposition in regards to any French interest and or interference in South America. Secretary Adams stated that by agreeing to the suggestion of George Canning it would eliminate the possibility of the addition of Cuba or other Latin American Territories someday to the United States. This prompted President Monroe to include a statement with regards to American foreign policy to his annual message to congress in 1823 in which he stated “by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.” This statement by President Monroe was a way of declaring to other nations that the United States was finally independent and focusing on internal development.