Amid a Warring World

by Smith, Robert W.

• ISBN13: 9781597975223
• ISBN10: 1597975222
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-08-31
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc

Summary

The years from 1775 to 1815 could be called the "critical period" of American foreign relations. At no time in American history was the existence of the republic in greater physical peril. Questions of foreign policy dominated American public life in a way unequalled until World War II. From the American Revolution through the War of 1812, the problem for American diplomats and foreign policymakers was to preserve the United States, both as an independent nation and as a republic, in a decidedly unequal contest with the great powers. According to historian Robert W. Smith, the question of American power lay at the heart of this debate over independence. The controversy over the power of the United States to reshape a hostile world remains as central today as in 1776. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Series Editor's Note	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xi
Introduction	p. xv
The Diplomacy of Independence	p. 1
The Failure of the Confederation	p. 33
American Foreign Relations in the Federalist Era	p. 57
The Jeffersonian Revolution in Foreign Affairs	p. 93
Mr. Madison's Wars	p. 121
Conclusion: The Significance of the Founding Era	p. 145
Appendix: Excerpts From Related Documents
Joseph Ward to John Adams, October 23, 1775	p. 149
Robert Morris to Charles Lee, February 17, 1776	p. 150
Chevalier de la Luzerne to Comte de Vergennes, June 14, 1781	p. 151
Richard Oswald to Thomas Townshend, November 30, 1782	p. 152
Robert R. Livingston to the American Peace Commissioners, March 25, 1783	p. 154
Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, August 23, 1785	p. 155
Francisco Rendón to Don José de Gálvez, February 12, 1785	p. 157
James Wilson's Speech at the Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention, December 11, 1787	p. 159
Samuel Shaw to John Jay, December 21, 1787	p. 160
Proclamation of Neutrality, April 22, 1793	p. 163
Thomas Jefferson's Description of a Cabinet Meeting on Edmond Genet, August 20, 1793	p. 164
Alexander Hamilton, "Americanus No. 1," January 31, 1794	p. 166
Alexander Hamilton, "The Defence No. II," July 25, 1795	p. 167
James Madison's Petition to the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, October 12, 1795	p. 169
John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, July 8, 1797	p. 172
Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, June 27, 1799	p. 174
James Madison to Charles Pinckney, November 27, 1802	p. 175
Thomas Jefferson's Account of Cabinet Meetings, November 12 and 19, 1805	p. 177
Berlin Decree, November 21, 1806	p. 178
Order-in-Council, January 7, 1807	p. 180
Milan Decree, December 17, 1807	p. 181
James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, April 24, 1809	p. 183
Henry Clay's Speech, February 22, 1810	p. 183
The Cadore Letter (Duc de Cadore to John Armstrong), August 5, 1810	p. 185
John Quincy Adams to John Adams, December 26, 1814	p. 187
Notes	p. 191
Selected Bibliography	p. 201
Index	p. 213
About the Author	p. 221
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