Isolationism
IsolationismBetween 1789 and 1823 the United States made cautious efforts to become involved in world affairs to further insulate itself from European involvement. This tendency toward isolationism is clearly shown in treaties to resolve outstanding differences with European countries, territorial acquisitions, attempts to maintain neutrality in European struggles and broad policy statements by Washington and Monroe.
Several treaties were established to resolve outstanding differences with European countries, which displayed the clear intention for isolation. Jay�s Treaty of 1794 was made by John Jay, the chief justice at the time, to settle the conflict with the British after their assaults on American shipping. This treaty was very long and complex and also gave more to the British then had hoped. Jay�s Treaty led to the signing of the Pinckney Treaty (1795), which was a settlement of America�s important conflict with Spain. The Spanish feared a joint Anglo-American challenge to Spanish possessions in America and so were willingly ready to comply with U.S. terms. Under the treaty, Spain was to recognize the right of Americans to navigate the Mississippi and agree to fix the northern border of Florida where American�s always wanted (31st parallel). The Treaty of Ghent was also established to settle a conflict with Britain, which was sparked by European struggles with overseas trade. Thus, these treaties were made by the U.S. to settle the differences with European nations and further isolate themselves.
The U.S. gained much territory from European countries and also the natives.
Following the Battle of Timbers, the Treaty of Greenville was signed by the Miami, which ceded new lands to the U.S. in exchange for acknowledgment of native claim to the territory that they retained. Another example of territorial acquisition is where France claimed the Louisiana territory, but through misfortunes from the land, Napoleon sold the land west of the Mississippi River to America. Jefferson bought the territory including New Orleans for only 15 million dollars. During the early 1800�s William Henry Harrison, through threats, bribes and trickery, concluded many treaties that ceded more land to the U.S. These treaties led Indian leaders to stand up against the advancing white settlements and sparked conflict between the U.S. and several tribes. And since the British were Indian allies, conflict between Britain and America began to develop. These conflicts led to the War of 1812. Thus, many efforts were made to gain territory and isolate from European involvement.
The United States made many unsuccessful efforts to maintain neutrality in European struggles. After a war was declared between France and Great Britain, the U.S. issued a proclamation in 1793 announcing the determination of the U.S. to remain neutral. In 1794, Congress passed a neutrality act that forbade Americans to participate in the war and prohibited the use of American land as a base of operations for either side. Even with these efforts, the French and...
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