AP US History Document Based Question s3

AP US History Document Based Question

Directions: In the essay you should strive to support your assertions both by citing key pieces of evidence from the documents and by drawing on your knowledge of the period.

QUESTION: From 1776 to 1801 was there any overall direction or thrust taken by American foreign policy under the Washington, Adams, and the early Jefferson administrations? Isolate and describe any such policy goals and support your thesis using the documents provided and your personal knowledge of that period. Document A

John Adams on a Proposed Alliance with France, 1775

“…. That We ought not to enter into any Alliance with her [France], which should entangle Us in any future Wars in Europe, that We ought to lay it down as a first principle and a Maxim never to be forgotten, to maintain an entire Neutrality in all future European Wars. That it never could be in our Interest to unite with France, in the destruction of England, or in any measure to break her Spirit or reduce her to a situation in which she could not support her Independence. On the other hand it could never be our Duty to unite with Britain in too great a humiliation of France. That our real if not our nominal Independence would consist in our Neutrality.” John Adams, private diary for 1775.

Document B

Thomas Paine Suggests Neutrality, 1776

“Besides, what have we to do with setting the world at defiance? Our plan is commerce, and that well attended to, will secure us the peace and friendship of all Europe, because it is the interest of all Europe to have America a free port. Her trade will always be her protection.... I challenge the warmest advocate for reconciliation, to shew , a single advantage that this Continent can reap, by being connected with Great Britain. I will repeat the challenge, not a single advantage is derived. Our corn will fetch its price in any market in Europe and our imported goods must be paid for by them where we will. But the injuries and disadvantages we sustain by that connection, are without number, and our duty to mankind at large, as well as to ourselves, instruct us to renounce the alliance; because any submission to, or dependence on Great Britain, tends directly to involve this Continent in European wars and quarrels. As Europe is our market for trade, we ought to form no political connection with any part of it.... Europe is too thickly planted with Kingdoms, to be long at peace, and whenever a war breaks out between England and any foreign power, the trade of American goes to ruin, because of her connection with Britain....” Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776. Document C

Franco-American Treaty of Alliance of 1778

“If War should break out between France and Great Britain, during the continuance of the present War between the United States and England, his Majesty and the said united States, shall make it a common cause... as becomes good & faithful Allies. The essential and direct End of the present defensive alliance is to maintain effectually the liberty, Sovereignty, and independence absolute and unlimited of the said united States.... The two contracting Parties shall each on its own Part, and in the manner it may judge most proper, make all the efforts in its Power, against their common Enemy, in order to attain the end proposed...... Neither of the two Parties shall conclude either Truce or Peace with Great Britain, without the formal consent of the other first obtain'd; and they mutually engage not to lay down their arms, until the Independence of the united States shall have been formally or tacitly assured by the Treaty or Treaties that shall terminate the War. Franco-American Treaty of Alliance of 1778.

Document D

Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality, 1793 “Whereas it appears that a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands, of the one part, and France on the other; and the duty and interest of the United States require, that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent Powers; I have therefore thought fit by these presents to declare the disposition of the United States to observe the conduct aforesaid towards those Powers respectfully; and to exhort and warn the citizens of the United States carefully to avoid all acts and proceedings whatsoever, which may in any manner tend to contravene such disposition. And I do hereby also make known, that whatsoever of the citizens of the United States shall render himself liable to punishment or forfeiture under the law of nations, by committing, aiding, or abetting hostilities against any of the said Powers, or by carrying to any of them those articles which are deemed contraband by the modern usage of nations, will not receive the protection of the United States, against such punishment or forfeiture; and further, that I have given instructions to those officers, to whom it belongs, to cause prosecutions to be instituted against all persons, who shall. . . . violate the law of nations.” George Washington, April 22, 1793. Document E

Treaty of Paris, 1783

“It is agreed that the people of the United States shall continue to enjoy unmolested the right to take fish of every kind on the Grand Bank. . . . It is agreed that creditors on either side shall meet with no lawful impediment to the recovery of the full value in sterling money of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted. It is agreed that Congress shall earnestly recommend it to the legislatures of the respective states to provide for the restitution of all estates, rights, and properties, which have been confiscated belonging to real British subjects; and also of the estates, rights, and properties of persons resident in districts in the possession on his Majesty's arms and who have not borne arms against the said United States..... That there shall be no future confiscations made nor any prosecutions commenced against any person or persons for, or by reason of, the part which he or they may have taken in the present war.... The navigation of the river Mississippi, from its source to the ocean, shall forever remain free and open to the subjects of Great Britain and the citizens of the United States.”

Document F

Jay’s Treaty with Great Britain, proclaimed February 29, 1796.

“There shall be a firm, inviolable and universal peace, and a true and sincere friendship between His Britannic Majesty, his heirs and successors, and the United States of America; and between their respective countries, territories, cities, towns and people of every degree, without exception of persons or places. His Majesty will withdraw all his troops and garrisons from all posts and places within the boundary lines assigned by the treaty of peace to the United States. This evacuation shall take place on or before the first day of June, one thousand seven hundred and ninetysix.... The river Mississippi shall, however, according to the treaty of peace, be entirely open to both parties;.... Whereas it is alleged by divers British merchants and others His Majesty's subjects, that debts, to a considerable amount, which were bona fide contracted before the peace, still remain owing to them by citizens or inhabitants of the United States,... the United States will make full and complete compensation for the same to the said creditors.... His Majesty consents that the vessels belonging to the citizens of the United States of America shall be admitted and hospitably received in all the seaports and harbors of the British territories in the East Indies.... There shall be between all the dominions of His Majesty in Europe and the territories of the United States a reciprocal and perfect liberty of commerce and navigation.....” Document G

James Madison’s Criticism of Jay’s Treaty, 1795

“...Indeed, the Treaty from one end to the other must be regarded as a demonstration that the Party to which the Envoy belongs & of which he has been more than the organ than of the United States, is a British party systematically aiming at an exclusive connection with the British Government & ready to sacrifice to that object as well the dearest interests of our commerce as the most sacred dictates of National honour. . . . The leaders of this Party stand self condemned in their efforts to plaite [sic] the Treaty by magnifying the necessity of the British commerce to the U.S. & the insufficiency of the U.S. to influence the regulation of it. You will find on turning to a Pamphlet addressed to your people by Mr. Jay when the Federal Constitution was before them, that he then could see our power under such a Constitution to extort what we justly claimed from G.B., & particularly to open the W. India ports to us. As an Agent for the Constitution he now voluntarily abandons the very object which as an advocate for the Constitution he urged as an argument for adopting it, -- read also the Paper No. XI in the Publication entitled the Federalist for the view of the subject then inculcated by another advocate. . . . Many, even of those who have hitherto allied to the most exceptionable Party measures, join in the general indignation against the Treaty....” James Madison, 1795.

Document H

Pinckney’s Treaty, 1796

“To prevent all disputes on the subject of the boundaries which separate the territories of the two High contracting Parties, it is hereby declared and agreed as follows: to wit: The Southern boundary of the United States which divides their territory from the Spanish Colonies of East and West Florida, shall be designated... (boundary described)... And it is agreed that if there should be any troops, Garrisons or settlements of either Party in the territory of the other according to the above mentioned boundaries, they shall be withdrawn from the said territory within the term of six months.... In order to carry the preceding Article into effect one Commissioner and one Surveyor shall be appointed by each of the contracting Parties who shall meet at the Natchez on the left side of The River Mississippi before the expiration of six months from the ratification of this convention, and they shall proceed to run and mark this boundary according to the stipulations of the said Article.... It is likewise agreed that the Western boundary of the United States which separates them from the Spanish Colony of Louisiana, is in the middle of the channel or bed of the River Mississippi... (boundary described)...; and his Catholic Majesty has likewise agreed that the navigation of the said River in its whole breadth from its source to the Ocean shall be free only to his Subjects, and the Citizens of the United States.... ´Treaty of Friendship, Limits, and Navigation Between Spain and The United States; October 27, 1795. Document I

The Convention of 1800:

“There shall be a firm, inviolable, and universal peace, and a true and sincere Friendship between the French Republic, and the United States of America.... The Ministers Plenipotentiary of the two Parties, not being able to agree at present respecting the Treaty of Alliance of 6th February 1778,... the Parties will negotiate further on these subjects at a convenient time, and until they may have agreed upon these points, the said Treaties, and.... shall have no operation, and the relations of the two Countries shall be regulated as follows. The Public Ships, which have been taken on one part, and the other, or which may be taken before the exchange of ratifications shall be restored. Property captured, and not yet definitively condemned, or which may be captured before the exchange of ratifications, ... shall be mutually restored.... This article shall take effect from the date of the signature of the present Convention.....”

Document J

Washington Advises Nation to Stand Alone, 1796

“Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike for another cause those whom that actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. . . . The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations to have with as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves in artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities…. Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?...” George Washington, September 17, 1796. Document K

John Adams Comments on the Convention of 1800 In a letter to a correspondent who had asked about Adams’ feelings concerning his treatment by political enemies after he pushed the Convention of 1800 through Congress, Adams replied in the short statement given below. At another occasion Adams remarked that he would be satisfied to have on his tombstone only a statement that here lay a president who dared seek peace with France in 1800. "I will defend my missions to France as long as I have an eye to direct my hand, or a finger to hold my pen. They were the most disinterested and meritorious actions of my life. I reflect upon them with... satisfaction." John Adams, 1815.

Document L

Thomas Jefferson First Inaugural Address, 4 March 1801

“.... Let us, then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind. Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things. And let us reflect that, having banished from our land that religious intolerance under which mankind so long bled and suffered, we have yet gained little if we countenance a political intolerance as despotic, as wicked, and capable of as bitter and bloody persecutions.... But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names brethren of the same principle. We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists. About to enter, fellow-citizens, on the exercise of duties which comprehend everything dear and valuable to you, it is proper you should understand what I deem the essential principles of our Government, and consequently those which ought to shape its Administration. I will compress them within the narrowest compass they will bear, stating the general principle, but not all its limitations. Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political; peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none;....” Document M