Neutrality In The 19th Century

Words: 742
Pages: 3

Neutrality is the state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict, disagreement, or war. This was a goal of the United States during the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, which started very early as soon as they won their independence. The first three presidents George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were tasked at maintaining neutrality with all the problems and events at hand during that time period. With all the tasks these presidents had neutrality was a top one. This being said the first three presidents did what they believed was the best for the country in terms of neutrality. Washington, our first president was very huge on neutrality. In 1793 he declared in the Proclamation of Neutrality that “the duty and interest of the United States require, that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the …show more content…
He also had problems too and tried to maintain the neutrality. Even after the treaties with Britain and France, still impressed American sailors and took American ships. So Thomas Jefferson passed the Embargo Act of 1807 that made any exports illegal. This became very unpopular because many Americans couldn’t profit from selling their goods. For example, Philip Barton Key says “In a commercial point of view, it has annihilated our trade. In an agricultural point of view, it has paralyzed industry” (Document G). President Jefferson also had a hard time keeping peace with France if they would buy the Louisiana Purchase. For example in the Writings of Jefferson (1897) he says” render it impossible that France and the United States can continue long friends when they meet in so irritable a position” (Document F). However, in all these intentions to remain neutral America went to war with Britain in the War of