The French Revolution (may 5, 1789 – nov 9, 1799)

Description:

Another topic in which Hamilton and Jefferson—political rivals until the end—disagreed was in the proper American response to the French Revolution. Jefferson and those he represented argued that the United States should support the revolution due to the country’s still-standing alliance with France, to support fellow republican governments, and as a retaliatory measure against the British, fighting the French at the moment, who were seizing American ships. Hamilton, however, and Washington eventually, decided not to involve the country in the conflict, arguing it was not their place to meddle in the foreign affairs of others and concerned about the instability of France upsetting the delicate stability of the newly-formed United States.

Added to timeline:

Date: