George Washington Balance Sheet

Assets Great Moral

Character Man of virtue Leadership skills Charismatic Gentleman Impartial and

Unbiased No self-interest Flair for the

dramatic

Liabilities No formal

education Not a military

genius Sensitive to

criticism Volatile temper Cold, unemotional Detailed/Control

Freak Averse to fame—

vanity?

Analysis of Washington1.Exceptional leader

--Deferred to his assistants (TJ v AH)

--Visionary who helped form the new republic

2. Precedent of the President

--Dominance of the Executive Branch in Foreign Affairs (Jay’s Treaty)

Minority factions can protest peacefully, but cannot take up arms (Whisky Rebellion)

Idea of national independence and a warning against political factionalism

(Farewell Address)

Foreign PolicySurvival (1783-1814)• Existence of America was in Jeopardy• 9 elements of National Power

in 1792, the United States had 0

Military Capacity

--600 man army, Navy of 3 shipsNational Morale

--country divided on the constitution and

political party

• Events

Northwest Indian War

1791—”Bloodiest American Battle”, General Arthur St. Clair, 700 Americans killed

1794—”Mad” Anthony Wayne and the Battle of Fallen Timbers

1795—Treaty of Greenville

Relations with FranceNeutrality Proclamation (1793)Washington says we are going to stay out of

Europe’s WarsDemonstrated tensions between TJ and AH

Withdrawal from the Franco-American AllianceAlliance signed in 1778 to provide for help with

Revolutionary WarWas to last 20 years, lasted 15

Relations with Great Britain Seizure of ships by the British Jay’s Treaty (1794)—Britain leave the Forts in

the NW, we pay back our debts, very unpopular

Relations with Spain

Pinckney Treaty (1795)—port of N.O.Ended the

Florida border dispute

Opened the port of N.O. to American Ships

Washington’s Farewell Address• Spirit of the address was directed at creating an

independent nation with a distinctively American and republican character

• Take the middle ground in American politics and foreign policy (no factions and neutrality)

•

• “Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign

world.” Misinterpreted that he was preaching IsolationYoung nation needed time to mature It was in our national interest to allow this to

happen

• Isolationist view reflected in the U.S. being a reactive nation:Mexican-American War?Spanish-American War?World War I?World War II?Korean War?Vietnam War?Afghanistan? Iraq?North Africa?