1. Challenges for the New Nation
Chapter 7, Section 3
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2. Did You Know? The French Revolution of 1789 was partly inspired
by ideas from the earlier American Revolution.
These ideas included the people’s right to take up
arms against tyranny, the concept that there should
be no taxation without representation, that all men
should have liberal freedoms, and that a republic is
superior to a monarchy.

3. Remaining Neutral
Tensions between France and Britain began to build after
the French people rebelled against their king.
Only July 14, 1789, citizens of Paris attacked and captured the Bastille, a hated fortress and prison that stood as a symbol of royal power.
The storming of the Bastille was one of the first acts of the French Revolution – a rebellion of the French people.
The French people overthrew their king and created a republican government.

4. Remaining Neutral Some Americans worried about the French Revolution’s
violent riots and attacks on traditional authority.
Americans were shocked with King Louis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette were executed.
A few years later, France and Great Britain went to war.
Some Americans supported the French, while others backed the British. Some wanted to remain neutral.

5. The Neutrality Proclamation
The Neutrality Proclamation stated that the United States
would not take sides with any European countries that
were at war.
President Washington believed that the “duty and interest of the United States require that they should pursue a conduct friendly and impartial towards belligerent powers.”
Some members of Congress criticized Washington’s ideas. James Madison believed that the president had gone beyond his authority.

6. American Privateers The French asked for help in fighting the English.
American privateers (private ships hired by a country to attack enemies) were the points of concern.
President Washington told France that using American privateers violated U.S. neutrality.
Jefferson wanted the French to succeed, but agreed with Washington that the use of American privateers was a bad idea.

7. Jay’s Treaty The British violated U.S. neutrality by seizing American
ships carrying food to the French West Indies.
President Washington wanted to prevent another war with Britain.
Chief Justice John Jay was sent to England to work out a peaceful solution to this problem.
Jay’s Treaty – settled disputes between the U.S. and Great Britain.
The British would pay to damages on seized American ships and abandon their fortresses on the northwestern frontier. The U.S. agreed to pay debts it owed to the British.

8. Jay’s Treaty Jay’s Treaty was controversial.
Many Americans disapproved of it because it did not deal with British impressment or the British interference with American trade.
Washington sent it to the Senate even though he, too, did not favor it. He saw it as an end to the crisis. It was narrowly approved.

9. Pinckney’s Treaty American businesses faced problems as a result of a
border disputes with the Spanish.
Spain had closed the port of New Orleans to the U.S. in 1784 stopping U.S. trade through the port city.
Ambassador Thomas Pinckney was sent to discuss the situation with the Spanish.
In October 1795, Pinckney’s Treaty settled the border and trade disputes with Spain.
Spain recognized the southern U.S. border at 31º N Latitude and reopened New Orleans to U.S. business.

10. Conflict in the Northwest Territory
The Native Americans who lived between the
Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River had
troubles with the new government over this land.
They felt the land belonged to them and the new settlers were taking away their land.
They looked to Britain and Spain for help prevent American settlers from moving onto these lands.
Washington hoped that treaties signed with the Native American tribes would keep the British and Spanish out.

11. Treaties Ignored American settlers ignored the treaties and moved onto
the lands that were promised to the Native Americans.
When fighting broke out, Washington sent an army led by General Arthur St. Clair to restore order.
His troops were beaten badly in November 1791.
The Miami, Shawnee, and Delaware tribes allied and continued to resist American settlers moving onto their land.

12. Treaty of Greenville
The Native Americans demanded that all settlers north
of the Ohio River leave.
When Washington sent in another army led by General Anthony Wayne.
At the Battle of Fallen Timbers in August 1794, Wayne’s army defeated over 1,000 Native Americans.
The Treaty of Greenville was signed in 1795 to settle the
issue. Native Americans agreed to surrender most of the
land in present-day Ohio.

13. The Whiskey Rebellion
Congress passed a tax on American-made whiskey in
March 1791.
The tax was part of Hamilton’s plan to raise money to pay off the federal debt.
He was also testing the power of the federal government to control the states’ actions..

14. The Whiskey Rebellion
People in western Pennsylvania were upset about the
tax.
Farmers converted corn into whiskey between it was easier to move and was used as a form of money.
Farmers believed that they shouldn’t have to pay the tax and that they had the right to keep the money they made from their own product.
Fighting broke out by 1794 – farmers rebelled and attacked tax collectors.
Washington led an army of 13,000 men and quickly put down the rebellion.

15. Washington’s Farewell
Washington had served two terms as president and
chose not to seek a third term.
This set a precedent for later presidents to follow.
He looked forward to retiring at Mount Vernon.
However, he was greatly troubled by the divisions in American politics and political parties.

16. Discussion Questions
Why were the western Pennsylvania farmers so resistant to a tax on whiskey?
Which group fared better from the Treaty of Greenville, the Native Americans or the American settlers?
Why did Britain and Spain sign treaties with the United States?
Why do you think Washington was so concerned about avoiding “permanent alliances” with foreign nations?