Jay's Treaty, Pinckney's Treaty and the Whisky Rebellion
I am sure many have heard about historical changes such as “Jay’s Treaty”, “The Whiskey Rebellion”, and “Pinckney’s Treaty”. They are taught to children as young as Eight years old. These three were major parts in Domestic Politics in the 18th century.
In 1793, the British government violated international law by ordering naval commanders to begin seizing any American ship that carried French goods or was sailing for a French port. By 1794, several Hundred American ships were confiscated. Choices were to Join the British navy or be imprisoned. The British also armed Indians to attack settlers. On April 16, 1794, Washington named John Jay as a special envoy to Great Britain. They made an agreement; Jay wanted them to settle all major issues: to get the British out of their forts along the Great Lakes, to secure reparations for the losses of American shippers, compensation for southern slaves carried away by British ships in 1783, and a new commercial treaty that would legalize American trade with the British West Indies. Jay accepted the British definition of neutral rights – that exports of tar, pitch and other products needed for warships were contraband and that such military products could not go in neutral ships to enemy ports – and the “rule of 1756” prevailed, meaning that trade was prohibited in peacetime because of mercantilist restrictions could not be opened in wartime. Britain also gained most-favored-nation treatment in American commerce and a promise that French privateers would not be outfitted in American ports. Finally, Jay conceded that the British need not compensate U.S. Citizens for the enslaved people who have escaped during the war and that the pre-Revolutionary American debts to the British merchants would be paid by the U.S. Government. In return, Jay won three important points: British evacuation of their six northwestern forts by 1796, reparations for the seizures of American ships and cargo in 1793 – 1794, and the right of American
In 1793, the British government violated international law by ordering naval commanders to begin seizing any American ship that carried French goods or was sailing for a French port. By 1794, several Hundred American ships were confiscated. Choices were to Join the British navy or be imprisoned. The British also armed Indians to attack settlers. On April 16, 1794, Washington named John Jay as a special envoy to Great Britain. They made an agreement; Jay wanted them to settle all major issues: to get the British out of their forts along the Great Lakes, to secure reparations for the losses of American shippers, compensation for southern slaves carried away by British ships in 1783, and a new commercial treaty that would legalize American trade with the British West Indies. Jay accepted the British definition of neutral rights – that exports of tar, pitch and other products needed for warships were contraband and that such military products could not go in neutral ships to enemy ports – and the “rule of 1756” prevailed, meaning that trade was prohibited in peacetime because of mercantilist restrictions could not be opened in wartime. Britain also gained most-favored-nation treatment in American commerce and a promise that French privateers would not be outfitted in American ports. Finally, Jay conceded that the British need not compensate U.S. Citizens for the enslaved people who have escaped during the war and that the pre-Revolutionary American debts to the British merchants would be paid by the U.S. Government. In return, Jay won three important points: British evacuation of their six northwestern forts by 1796, reparations for the seizures of American ships and cargo in 1793 – 1794, and the right of American