How should the United States act toward Britain and France in the 1790s?

OCR: 1 cited passage(s) are machine-read (OCR) text of old printings; quotations reproduce the stored OCR text, misreadings included.

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (1795-07-22): Alexander Hamilton believed that the United States should seek to participate in the colony trade of Great Britain, and that this claim should be evaluated in light of the prevailing commercial and maritime systems of European nations, which prioritize national advantage over common interest. He argues that European nations, including Britain, have established systems of trade regulations and restraints that favor their own interests, including monopolizing trade with their colonies. (key quote above) [1]
• BELIEF (1795-07-22): Alexander Hamilton believed that the United States should prefer friendly arrangements with Britain through treaties of commerce rather than regulations by acts of Congress, as shown by his defense of Mr. Jay's treaty. He argued that treaties of commerce are preferable to legislative regulations because they allow for more equitable and mutually convenient adjustments over time. "The report alluded to is explicit in declaring a preference of friendly arrangements, by treaties of commerce, to regulations by the acts of our Legislature, and authorizes the inference, under which the commercial resolutions were brought forward, that the latter should be resorted to only when the former cannot be effected." [2]
• BELIEF (1795-09-04): Alexander Hamilton believed that the United States should demand from Britain a provision to protect American seamen from impressment, and that the United States should carefully assess and be honest about France's conduct toward the U.S., especially in light of potential foreign dangers. He argued that the U.S. should not act on unreasonable or unfounded suggestions regarding the treaty with Britain, and that it should be united at home in the face of potential foreign threats. (key quote above) [3]
• BELIEF (1795-09-04): Alexander Hamilton believed that France's policy toward neutral maritime nations, including the United States, amounted to near-hostility, as it threatened to destroy their commerce and degrade them from sovereign status. He argued that France was targeting British commerce to weaken Britain and force a favorable peace, and he cited specific actions such as the treatment of Tuscany and the seizure of Leghorn as evidence. [4]
• BELIEF (1796-08): Alexander Hamilton believed that the United States should avoid permanent alliances or intimate connections with any part of the foreign world, including Britain and France, and instead maintain harmony, liberal intercourse, and commerce with all nations without granting or seeking exclusive favors. He argued that such exclusive arrangements would compromise U.S. independence and lead to folly in national policy. (key quote above) [5]
• BELIEF (1800-12-24): Alexander Hamilton believed that the United States should ratify the convention with France, as he thought it should be ratified and that there was nothing in it contrary to the treaty with Great Britain. He also believed that the convention's stipulations, while potentially unfriendly to Britain, were not indications of enmity and would not likely produce hostile conduct from Britain. "Having received its present form, I think it should be ratified. In my opinion, there is nothing in it contrary to our treaty with Great Britain." [6]
• BELIEF (undated): Alexander Hamilton believed that the United States should avoid giving Britain any privilege or advantage not shared with other nations, and he recommended a definitive effort to negotiate with Britain to terminate differences, followed by a declaration of war if unsuccessful. He also expressed concerns about certain articles in the Jay Treaty. "I never advised any connection with Great Britain other than a commercial one; and in this I never advocated the giving to her any privilege or advantage which was not to be imparted to other nations." [7]
• ACTION (undated): Alexander Hamilton made a motion to recommend to the States a compliance with the treaty article regarding the surrender of posts by the British, shortly after the arrival of the provisional treaty. This shows he believed the United States should act to enforce treaty obligations with Britain, even before the definitive treaty was signed in 1784. "I remember that I contended in Congress, shortly after the arrival of the provisional treaty, and when it was known that preliminaries had been signed between France and England, that the execution of the treaty was to date from this epoch, and on this position I grounded a motion to recommend to the States a compliance with the article." [8]
• ACTION (undated): Alexander Hamilton prepared and posed a list of eleven questions regarding the United States' conduct toward Britain and France, focusing on neutrality, treaty obligations, and the nature of France's war. These questions were intended to guide the Executive in forming a general plan of conduct. "I have stated and inclosed sundry questions, to be considered preparatory to a meeting at my house to-morrow, where I shall expect to see you at nine o'clock, and to receive the result of your reflections thereon." [9]
• BELIEF (undated): Alexander Hamilton believed the United States should counteract misrepresentation by placing facts fairly before the people, and that it was a duty to the people's interests to do so. He argued that France was in a state of extreme distress and that Britain's position was stronger, suggesting the U.S. should be faithful to its interests by acknowledging these facts. "But the cant phrases of party cannot alter the nature of truth — nor will they prevent the people of the United States from listening impartially to it, or from discerning that it is a mark of fidelity to their interests, to counteract misrepresentation, by placing facts fairly before them, and a duty which they owe" [10]

What cuts against it

• ACTION (undated): Alexander Hamilton made a motion to recommend to the States a compliance with the treaty article regarding the surrender of posts by the British, shortly after the arrival of the provisional treaty. However, in [11] (1783-09-30), he expressed a desire for a more solid federal union and a change in government, which could be seen as a different approach to foreign policy. "I flatter myself I may indulge a consciousness that my services have been of some value to the public..." [11]

• BELIEF (1796-08): Alexander Hamilton believed that the United States should avoid permanent alliances or intimate connections with any part of the foreign world, including Britain and France, and instead maintain harmony, liberal intercourse, and commerce with all nations without granting or seeking exclusive favors. However, in [6] (1800-12-24), he supported ratifying a convention with France, which could be seen as a form of intimate connection, suggesting a potential inconsistency. "Having received its present form, I think it should be ratified. In my opinion, there is nothing in it contrary to our treaty with Great Britain." [6]

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. Alexander Hamilton believed the United States should maintain neutrality and avoid permanent alliances with foreign powers, as stated in [5]. "Permanent alliance, intimate connection with any part of the foreign world is to be avoided..." [5]

2. He also believed that the United States should seek to participate in the colony trade of Great Britain, as stated in [1]. (key quote above) [1]

3. Hamilton believed that the United States should demand from Britain a provision to protect American seamen from impressment, as stated in [3]. "Some provision for the protection of our seamen is infinitely desirable..." [3]

4. He also believed that the United States should carefully assess and be honest about France's conduct toward the U.S., especially in light of potential foreign dangers, as stated in [3]. "it is time for plain truths, which can only be unacceptable to the hirelings or dupes of that nation." [3]

5. Hamilton believed that the United States should ratify the convention with France, as stated in [6]. "Having received its present form, I think it should be ratified." [6]

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: PARTIAL

The record is silent on the specific actions the United States should take toward Britain and France in the 1790s beyond the principles of neutrality, participation in trade, and protection of seamen. However, from his stated principles, it can be inferred that Hamilton would advocate for a balanced approach that maintains neutrality, seeks commercial opportunities, and protects American interests.

Extrapolation: Alexander Hamilton would likely advocate for the United States to maintain a neutral stance in the conflict between Britain and France, seek commercial opportunities with both nations, and protect American interests through diplomatic and economic means. He would emphasize the importance of avoiding permanent alliances and maintaining a strong, independent foreign policy.

Competing readings: One reading is that Hamilton would support a strong, independent foreign policy that avoids entanglements and focuses on American interests. Another reading is that he might have supported a more active role in international affairs, particularly in protecting American commerce and seamen. The record itself supports the first reading, as he emphasized neutrality and the importance of American independence in foreign policy.

Confidence: Moderate. The confidence is moderate because the record provides clear principles but does not address the specific actions the United States should take toward Britain and France in the 1790s. The extrapolation is based on his stated principles and actions, but there is some uncertainty about how he would apply these principles in specific situations.