Lesson: George Washington s Foreign Policy President Washington s Warnings to the Nation Lauren Webb. 2014. {a social studies life}.
Name Date Social Studies The New Nation Washington s Warnings Aim: How do we avoid getting involved in the wrong situation? Do Now: Answer the following questions in {3-4} complete sentences. If parents argue, should children get involved? Should they take sides? Why or why not? Which two countries would you consider the early parents of the United States? Why?
Directions: Read The Question of Foreign Involvement and complete the graphic organizer. Decide based on the evidence what foreign policy the United States should adopt Prepare to state your advice to the President! Just ten weeks after George Washington s first inauguration, a revolution broke out in France. The revolutionists were inspired by the American Declaration of Independence. They stated their goals in the ringing cry, liberty, equality, fraternity. Unhappily, the revolution soon became a bloodbath. The revolutionists mobbed and beheaded thousands of people in the upper classes and nobility, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. It was impossible for people in neighboring countries to remain indifferent. Many, particularly the ruling classes, were filled with horror. They feared that revolution might spread to their own countries. By 1793, in response to this widely expressed concern, the governments of Great Britain and other European countries were at war with France. In this situation, what policy should the United States have adopted? According to a treaty made with France in 1778, the United States was obligated to defend the French West Indies, but if the United States aided France, it would soon find itself at war again with Great Britain. The new nation was not prepared for armed conflict on either land or sea. The year is 1793, and you are members of George Washington s cabinet. The President has asked for your advice concerning the problem of the French-English conflict. Complete the graphic organizer below and then prepare to state your advice to the President.
What Foreign Policy Should the New United States Adopt? Possible Actions Honor the treaty with France What are the advantages of this action? What are the disadvantages of this action? Side with the British Declare neutrality {do not take sides} What action have you {& your group} decided the United States should take? Why? I/We believe the United States should
Directions: Read George Washington s Neutrality Proclamation and answer the questions that follow in complete sentences. Whereas it appears that a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands, of the one part, and France on the other; and 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 belligerent Powers; I have therefore thought fit by these presents to declare the disposition of the United States to observe the conduct aforesaid towards those Powers respectfully; and to exhort and warn the citizens of the United States carefully to avoid all acts and proceedings whatsoever, which may in any manner, tend to contravene such disposition. Vocabulary Sincerity: genuine; pure; serious Impartial: fair; just; no taking of sides Belligerent: warlike; a state or nation at war Disposition: attitude; mood Aforesaid: said, or mentioned earlier or previously Exhort: to urge, advise, or caution Contravene: to go or act against 1) According to President Washington, what countries are in a state of war? 2) What is in the best interest of the United States to act towards the belligerent powers? Explain.
And I do hereby also make known, that whatsoever of the citizens of the United States shall render himself liable to punishment or forfeiture under the law of nations, by committing, aiding, or abetting hostilities against any of the said Powers, or by carrying to any of them those articles which are deemed contraband by the modern usage of nations, will not receive the protection of the United States, against such punishment or forfeiture; and further, that I have given instructions to those officers, to whom it belongs, to cause prosecutions to be instituted against all persons, who shall, within the cognizance of the courts of the United States, violate the law of nations, with respect to the Powers at war, or any of them. In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. Done at the city of Philadelphia, the twenty-second day of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, and of the Independence of the United States of American the seventeenth. What date did President Washington administer the Neutrality Proclamation? Vocabulary Render: to cause to be or become Liable: legally responsible Forfeiture: an act of forfeiting; surrender; yield; waive Abet: help; aid; assist; promote Contraband: goods that are prohibited by law to import or export Cognizance: awareness; realization; knowledge Testimony: evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof Affix: to fasten, join, or attach
3) How did President Washington decide to deal with the question of involvement in the war between Great Britain and France? 4) Why do you believe President Washington felt that neutrality was in the best interest of the United States? 5) Was President Washington s policy of neutrality a good idea for the new nation? Why or why not? 6) Do you believe the United States owes its early survival to George Washington s foreign policy of neutrality? Explain your answer using relevant details from the reading passage and your knowledge of Social Studies.
What evidence is there to suggest that the United States did not follow President Washington s foreign policy advice? How do you know? Explain your answer using relevant examples from today s lesson and your knowledge of Social Studies and current events. {5-6 sentences}
Answer Key for Teachers What Foreign Policy Should the New United States Adopt? Possible Actions What are the advantages of this action? What are the disadvantages of this action? Honor the treaty with France France helped us during the American Revolution so the U.S. England would attack the United States should help them Side with the British The U.S. trades with Great Britain and it would help the U.S. economy France would attack us Declare neutrality {do not take sides} by helping them We do not get involved in a war and it saves American lives Both England and France would not like our decision 1) According to President Washington, what countries are in a state of war? Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, France, United Netherlands 2) What is in the best interest of the United States to act towards the belligerent powers? Explain. To act friendly and impartial toward both Great Britain and France {you may also add the anecdote that Hamilton was pro-british and Jefferson was pro-french} 3) How did President Washington decide to deal with the question of involvement in the war between Great Britain and France? Washington decided that the US should not get involved in a foreign war 4) Why do you believe President Washington felt that neutrality was in the best interest of the United States? Washington believed that it was a no win situation. If we helped France, England would attack us. If we helped England, France would attack us. 5) Was President Washington s policy of neutrality a good idea for the new nation? Why or why not? Yes, as a new nation we did not have a strong army/navy and we could have easily been defeated 6) Do you believe the United States owes its early survival to George Washington s foreign policy of neutrality? Explain your answer using relevant details from the reading passage and your knowledge of Social Studies. We may owe everything if it was not for his decision we could have ended up in a war that could have led to us being taken over by a European power