George Washington Balance Sheet Assets Great Moral Character Great Moral Character Man of virtue Man of virtue Leadership skills Leadership skills Charismatic Charismatic Gentleman Gentleman Impartial and Unbiased Impartial and Unbiased No self-interest No self-interest Flair for the dramatic Flair for the dramaticLiabilities No formal education No formal education Not a military genius Not a military genius Sensitive to criticism Sensitive to criticism Volatile temper Volatile temper Cold, unemotional Cold, unemotional Detailed/Control Freak Detailed/Control Freak Averse to fame—vanity? Averse to fame—vanity?

Analysis of Washington 1.Exceptional leader --Deferred to his assistants (TJ v AH) --Visionary who helped form the new republic 2. Precedent of the President --Dominance of the Executive Branch in Foreign Affairs (Jay’s Treaty)

 Minority factions can protest peacefully, but cannot take up arms (Whisky Rebellion)  Idea of national independence and a warning against political factionalism (Farewell Address)

Foreign Policy Survival ( ) Existence of America was in Jeopardy 9 elements of National Power in 1792, the United States had 0  Military Capacity man army, Navy of 3 ships  National Morale --country divided on the constitution and political party

Events Northwest Indian War 1791—”Bloodiest American Battle”, General Arthur St. Clair, 700 Americans killed 1794—”Mad” Anthony Wayne and the Battle of Fallen Timbers 1795—Treaty of Greenville 

Relations with France  Neutrality Proclamation (1793)  Washington says we are going to stay out of Europe’s Wars  Demonstrated tensions between TJ and AH  Withdrawal from the Franco-American Alliance  Alliance signed in 1778 to provide for help with Revolutionary War  Was to last 20 years, lasted 15

Relations with Great Britain  Seizure of ships by the British  Jay’s Treaty (1794)—Britain leave the Forts in the NW, we pay back our debts, very unpopular

Relations with Spain  Pinckney Treaty (1795)— port of N.O.  Ended the Florida border dispute  Opened the port of N.O. to American Ships

Washington’s Farewell Address Spirit of the address was directed at creating an independent nation with a distinctively American and republican character Take the middle ground in American politics and foreign policy (no factions and neutrality)

“Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”  Misinterpreted that he was preaching Isolation  Young nation needed time to mature  It was in our national interest to allow this to happen

Isolationist view reflected in the U.S. being a reactive nation:  Mexican-American War?  Spanish-American War?  World War I?  World War II?  Korean War?  Vietnam War?  Afghanistan?  Iraq?  North Africa?