aug 4, 1794 - Proclimation of Neutrality
Description:
United States government (by Washington, influenced by Hamilton) officially declared their neutrality in the French Revolution
Said they wouldn’t provide assistance to either side, the British or the French
Said that the United States government would prosecute any citizen who violated this statement of neutrality and tried to give aid to either side
Hamilton argued that even though the US owed it to the French to help them in their revolution because French aid was an enormous factor in the colonial victory in the Revolutionary War, the US shouldn’t help, because they are a not totally stable and just formed country, and that France helped in their revolution because France had personal motivation, but the French revolution has nothing at all to do with the US
Jefferson said that neutrality was betrayal, that the US had agreed to help the French in times of need, and even if there is a change in power or politics, agreements should still stand
Washington chose Hamilton’s neutrality stance because the US had nothing to gain from entering the French Revolution, but could lose much
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