Friends and citizens,
Being in the dark about the past, it is impossible to comprehend and understand a present, and also to glance into the future. Only by studying history we can understand and predict what the consequences of our current activities are. Only by studying the history we can do major conclusions for prosperity of our country, to analyze made mistakes and to prevent them from arising again. History is an integral part of the present and the future. Summing up the results of recent years it is necessary to note the most important events, which have a direct impact on the present and te future of our country, which have a direct impact on the proper definition of priority principles and aims, foreign-policy course.
It would be justly to point out first of all that war for independence of the North-American colonies 1775 - 1783 years was a revolution that overturned colonial domination of Great Britain and led to the creation of a new independent state, based on the republican commencement. Winning American democracy laid down preconditions for successful development of the United States, influence on Great French revolution and liberation movement in Latin America.
Since 1776 the Kingdom of France was one of the key allies in this revolutionary war whereby was signed the Union Treaty between our countries. According to this agreement, France has pledged to safeguard the freedom, independence and sovereignty of the United States, and the United States guaranteed the inviolability of the French dominions in America. Since 1793, when England entered the war with France, the British military ships began to search the American vessels. English captains took off the sailors who were former British from the American ships and did not let the vessels of the United States to the French West Indies. Chief Justice John Jay was sent with a special mission to resolve the conflict in England. He managed to conclude an agreement which courted controversial issues. The agreement was signed in London on 19 November 1794. However, the contract was not on equal terms in the United States. The British ships were given the right to visit all the ports of the United States; however the American ships were denied to enter the British dominions in North America. The Mississippi River was declared free for swimming for the Americans and British, but in the West Indies the Americans were allowed to trade only on vessels of less than 70 tones.
After the signing of this agreement, in the United States, there was adopted a policy of neutrality in the War of the First Coalition against France. Thus, previously signed French-American treaty agreement actually lost its power.
In 1797 John Adams was elected as a second President of the United States. He was actively involved in military programs, including the construction of the fleet, and he aimed at ensuring internal security in the implementation of some programs by a sharp tightening of immigration rules in the United States. "The act of naturalization", for example, increased the term for obtaining citizenship from 5 to 14 years; "The foreigners Act" authorized the President to send those who threaten peace in society, "The act of sedition" initiated imprisonment up to 5 years for conspiracy and distribution of materials that undermined the credibility of the authorities and contributed to unrest.( U.S. Department of State, n.d.)
The greatest contribution in foreign policy was made by the President in resolving the protracted crisis in relations between the United States and France, which emerged after the signing The Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation with England in 1794. In response France thereto canceled the existing agreement with the United States, broke off diplomatic relations and began to capture American merchant ships. Systematic armed clashes between French and American ships in the Atlantic and the Caribbean oceans received in the history the name of "undeclared war with France in 1798 - 1800 years". During this time the French have systematically seized American merchant vessel, thereby inflicting huge damage and losses to American shipping. In a single year there were seized more than 300 merchant ships. All this happened without any resistance from the United States due to the fact that our country did not even have a military navy at that time. All these events, in particular increased number of robberies, led to the revival of the naval forces of the country. Congress demanded from the President immediate declaration of war against France and adopted a series of emergency laws aimed at strengthening the country's defense. J. Adams, however, did not succumb to the military psychosis and was able to negotiate declaration of peace with Napoleon who came to power in France. In 1800 a "USA-France Convention" was signed, which proclaimed the friendship between two countries, it normalized trade relations and reaffirmed the right of the US shipping in international waters. (American History Central, 2016)
After analyzing all these events and concomitant made mistakes, we will evolve the most profitable foreign policy and economic course for our country. And may the Lord help us.
References
U.S. Department of State (n.d.). Milestones: 1784–1800. Retrieved January 13, 2016, from <https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/xyz>
American History Central. Encyclopedia of American History (2016). Quasi-War (1798–1800). Retrieved January 13, 2016, from: <http://www.www.americanhistorycentral.com/entry.php?rec=462>
