Why Did The Neutrality Proclamation As A Result Of The French Revolution

George Washington's second presidential term was not really his choice. He was reelected as president, almost against his will on February 13, 1793. Lots of people believed that only George Washington could do the job. Yet, that didn’t stop the politicians from “attacking” him. They attacked him for a couple reasons. Being that he supported the national bank, for living at the presidential mansion, and for remaining distant from the common people. They even accused Washington for wishing to become a Monarch. Although these "attacks" hurt Washington in a way, he had lots of bigger problems to deal with. For example, the French revolution was coming. The United States of America had very close ties with France as a result of the revolutionary

George Washington announced the Neutrality Proclamation because of this. The Neutrality Proclamation stated that the United States of America would not take sides. After the proclamation was announced, America was tangled in the affairs of both of the European Nations. The French then stated that America was bound to help the French against the British bound by a treaty made in 1778. At the end of the Revolutionary war, the French had promised to withdraw their troops from the Ohio River Valley, but they didn’t. From their Forts along the Ohio River Valley, they had then supplied Indians with weapons to use on American settlers. The French, and the British then threatened America, saying that they would confiscate American Trading Ships. Which at that point, would have destroyed America's growing economy. Washington worried about the threats. A French representative by the name of Edmond Genet started to rouse support in the streets to disobey, and to overthrow Washington, to disobey their government, and even asking them to join the French to fight against the British! Many leaders were frightened, including the Republicans who supported France. Washington then demanded that the French government

Later that year, settlers in Western Pennsylvania had revolted on a federal tax on Whiskey. This was called, "The Whiskey Rebellion". The Whiskey Rebellion was a fulfillment of the Democratic Promise offered by the Revolutionary War. However, Washington did not agree. He led a force of about 12,000 men and crushed the revolt. He dealt swiftly with this uprising, in hopes of reconciling the settlers he pardoned the rebellion's ringleaders. Though, Washington later won a Diplomatic Triumph with the Pinckney's Treaty. The rest of his second presidential term was consumed by the threat of war with Britain and maybe France. Also, within the fight of his own government between Hamilton and Jefferson. At this point, Washington desperately wanted to retire, because it seemed like America would not have to fight another war. So because of that, Washington decided to step down from his Presidential spot, and retired when his term was finally over. Yet, lots of his friends told him to not step down, he was determined to step down from his presidency. Washington then wrote a farewell address to the American people, with the help of Hamilton. Washington never delivered the speech, but he published it in a Philadelphia newspaper