Name Max Kanner APUSH
12.2 HW Washingtons Foreign Policy Use your textbook or a reliable internet site to create a bullet point(s)
summary of the following events during Washingtons presidency. Then, assess whether or not this event had a
positive impact on the U.S., then explain.
Washingtons term: April 30, 1789 March 4, 1797
Event Summary
The French - The French Revolution
Revolution became increasingly violent
and unstable during
Washingtons term,
specifically in the 1790s. The
escalation of conflict in
France let to the eventual
execution of the King and
Queen, and the
implementation of a new
government.
The Proclamation of - The newly implemented
Neutrality French government declared
war on Britain and many of
its allies, which prompted
congress to create this
document which asserted
that America would maintain
neutrality during this war.
Date: November 2, 2016
Evaluate - Was this positive, negative, or neutral for the
U.S.? Explain.
Negative
The revolution split the federalist party since some
members supported the French Revolution, while others
refused to support something so violent. Moreover, the
French Revolution bolstered the Republican Party, who
greatly believed in doing anything to overthrow a
tyrannical government.
Neutral
There were both positive and negative effects of this
proclamation, so depending on personal beliefs, this
decision could be seen as positive or negative, which is
why I labeled it as neutral. The negative effect of this
proclamation was a decrease in trade with the European
powers. This was because America did not want to be seen
as supporting one side of this war over the other (we can
see this same concept happening in the later World Wars).
However, many could see this decision as positive since 1)
it allowed America to stay out of another war which would
yet again drain American resources and wealth, and 2) it
allowed America to begin a path of isolationism (depending
on your opinion on isolationism, it can be seen as good or
bad).
Citizen Genet - Edmond Genet, a French - Negative
diplomat, came to
Charleston and used While Genets actions did not lead to a British invasion, or
American ports and any major impact, it still had a negative effect on America.
resources to outfit French This was because Genets actions threatened American
warships. Genet also tried neutrality and risked America being dragged into the war.
recruiting some American Moreover, it created tensions in the French and American
men as soldiers. relationship.
- Obviously, Washington was
angry since Genet
threatened to destroy the
Neutrality Act

The Jay Treaty - John Jay was established as Positive

the Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court during This treaty avoided yet another war, which as we know,
Washingtons term and was would cause death and drain American resources and
tasked with many goals to wealth. Moreover, it ushered in a decade of peaceful trade
achieve, specifically, kicking and set a precedent that America could/would trade with
the British out of their trade European powers.
posts in the American
frontier.
- Jay and Hamilton created this
treaty which helped hash out
issues set up/not addressed
in the Treaty of Paris. This
ultimately helped avoid a
war between Britain and
America, and helped
facilitate in peaceful trade
between the two nations for
a decade.
The Pinckney Treaty - The Pickney Treaty basically - Positive!!!
was a HUGE win for America.
This treaty forced the This Treaty literally just gave America almost everything
Spanish to control they could have asked the Spanish to do for them. It
Indigenous people in Florida, created less tension with Spain by allowing more trade and
(and not just push them over reestablishing agreed upon borders, while also creating
the border into Americas less violence for Americans by making the Spanish take
 land and making them responsibility for controlling the Indigenous people in their
Americas problem). It also land.
allowed Americans to use
New Orleans as a port, which
helped facilitate in New
Orleans transformation into
a major port city. Finally, this
treaty also helped clarify
where Floridas border was.

Washington did not do a good job in handling the foreign policy crises which occurred during his administration.
Based on the events above, support, modify, or refute this statement.

Based on the events above, George Washington had a positive impact on foreign policy during his administration.
Almost all of the events which were negative that occurred during his term could not have been avoided by
Washington (ie. Washington could not have just stopped the French Revolution). And, even in these negative events,
Washington was able to adapt and do what was best for the American people. Moreover, Washington set a precedent
of peaceful negotiation between other powers, as seen through the Jay and Pickney Treaty.