American relations with the world's major nations is one of change; nations once friends like China, or reluctant allies like Russia, become adversaries; and nations once enemies become allies, like Britain, Germany, Japan, and Italy. Although we have never gone to war with France, probably no nation has experienced the vacillating ups and downs with the U.S as has our French ally.
The latest exercise in vacillation of relations with France is exemplified by Trump's recent trashing of France for being "weak, and soft on terrorism," followed by pulling out of the climate accord. But after being invited by French President Macron to celebrate Bastille Day, capped by a military parade, Trump revised his low opinion of our long-time ally.
American alliance with France began during the American Revolution. French General Lafayette was instrumental in assisting the revolutionaries. French naval action at the Battle of the Chesapeake made possible the decisive victory at the siege of Yorktown in October 1781, effectively ending the war as far as the Americans were concerned. The French continued fighting, losing a naval battle to Britain in 1792.
Although French assistance was crucial in defeat of Britain, the colonists were under no illusion that France wanted a strong United States. French Foreign Minister Vergennes proposed that the United States be confined to the area east of the Appalachian Mountains. Britain would take the area north of the Ohio River and the Spanish would retain control of the area south of the Ohio River. That would keep the Americans from gaining access to the important port of New Orleans.
American negotiators led by John Jay quickly saw that they could cut a better deal by dealing directly with Britain. The Brits went along with ceding to Americans the entire area east of the Mississippi north of Florida and south of Canada. This would deny Britain's long-time enemy, France, access to New Orleans. This deal was favorable for both Britain and the fledgling United States.
In 1793, when France was still at war with Britain, President George Washington was reluctant to support either nation. This, along with Jay's deal with Britain that the French considered hostile, angered the French and led to what is known as the "Quasi War" of 1798-1800.
By 1800, Napoleon forced Spain to turn over the Louisiana Territory which he envisioned as a base for empire in the New World. President Thomas Jefferson could tolerate a weak Spain, but not a powerful France in the west. He sent James Monroe to France to buy land around New Orleans. For various reasons, Napoleon's plans for North America collapsed. To keep Louisiana out of British hands, he sold the entire Louisiana territory to the U.S. in 1803 for $15 million. Thanks to continuing hostility between Britain and France, the size of the U.S. doubled without going to war.
As France and Britain continued their warring ways, Jefferson believed that neutral nations could benefit from wars between the great powers. Although he distrusted both France and Britain, he saw Britain with its powerful navy and position in Canada as the more immediate threat. Jefferson and Madison took a generally pro-French position. Succeeding events led to the War of 1812 against Britain. But there was no sense of the U.S. as being an ally of France.
Another glitch with France occurred in 1834 when President Andrew Jackson demanded payment for some property destroyed during the Napoleonic Wars. France severed diplomatic relations. But the incident subsided and cultural exchanges resumed, including the much heralded visit by Alexis de Tocqueville, author of "Democracy in America" (1835).
In the 1840s Britain and France favored continued independence of the Republic of Texas, and considered blocking U.S. moves to obtain California. Britain wanted to keep western territories out of U.S. power. France opposed British intervention for the same reasons that France sold Louisiana to the U.S. and had supported the American Revolution, to limit British power. Whether intended or not, the majority of territorial growth in the continental U.S. was accomplished with French support.
During the American Civil War, France favored the seceding states of the Confederacy. But as France was too weak to go to war, fearing attack by Prussia, and Britain was unwilling, intervention didn't happen. However, Napoleon III took advantage of American preoccupation with the war to install Austrian Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg to the throne in Mexico. Celebration of the Mexican victory over the French on May 5, 1862 is the origin of the Cinco de Mayo celebration still observed today.
The U.S. exerted diplomatic pressure to persuade Napoleon III to withdraw French troops from Mexico. The removal of Napoleon III in 1870 improved Franco-American relations for several decades, symbolized by the Statue of Liberty, presented in 1884 as gift to the US from the French people. Many French held the U.S. as a land of opportunity and as a source of modern ideas. In 1906 when the German Empire challenged French influence in Morocco, President Theodore Roosevelt sided with the French.
During WWI, the U.S. remained neutral until entering the conflict in 1917, with over a million combat troops. With allied victory, President Woodrow Wilson became a hero for the French. However, Wilson and French Premier Clemenceau clashed regarding debts, reparations, and restraints on Germany. Clemenceau wanted a buffer state consisting of German territory west of the Rhine, and harsh terms. Wilson believed that peace and prosperity required Germany's integration into the world economic and political community as an equal partner.
Next week: Continued U.S.-French vacillations
- John Waelti of Monroe can be reached at jjwaelti1@tds.net. His column appears Fridays in the Monroe Times.
The latest exercise in vacillation of relations with France is exemplified by Trump's recent trashing of France for being "weak, and soft on terrorism," followed by pulling out of the climate accord. But after being invited by French President Macron to celebrate Bastille Day, capped by a military parade, Trump revised his low opinion of our long-time ally.
American alliance with France began during the American Revolution. French General Lafayette was instrumental in assisting the revolutionaries. French naval action at the Battle of the Chesapeake made possible the decisive victory at the siege of Yorktown in October 1781, effectively ending the war as far as the Americans were concerned. The French continued fighting, losing a naval battle to Britain in 1792.
Although French assistance was crucial in defeat of Britain, the colonists were under no illusion that France wanted a strong United States. French Foreign Minister Vergennes proposed that the United States be confined to the area east of the Appalachian Mountains. Britain would take the area north of the Ohio River and the Spanish would retain control of the area south of the Ohio River. That would keep the Americans from gaining access to the important port of New Orleans.
American negotiators led by John Jay quickly saw that they could cut a better deal by dealing directly with Britain. The Brits went along with ceding to Americans the entire area east of the Mississippi north of Florida and south of Canada. This would deny Britain's long-time enemy, France, access to New Orleans. This deal was favorable for both Britain and the fledgling United States.
In 1793, when France was still at war with Britain, President George Washington was reluctant to support either nation. This, along with Jay's deal with Britain that the French considered hostile, angered the French and led to what is known as the "Quasi War" of 1798-1800.
By 1800, Napoleon forced Spain to turn over the Louisiana Territory which he envisioned as a base for empire in the New World. President Thomas Jefferson could tolerate a weak Spain, but not a powerful France in the west. He sent James Monroe to France to buy land around New Orleans. For various reasons, Napoleon's plans for North America collapsed. To keep Louisiana out of British hands, he sold the entire Louisiana territory to the U.S. in 1803 for $15 million. Thanks to continuing hostility between Britain and France, the size of the U.S. doubled without going to war.
As France and Britain continued their warring ways, Jefferson believed that neutral nations could benefit from wars between the great powers. Although he distrusted both France and Britain, he saw Britain with its powerful navy and position in Canada as the more immediate threat. Jefferson and Madison took a generally pro-French position. Succeeding events led to the War of 1812 against Britain. But there was no sense of the U.S. as being an ally of France.
Another glitch with France occurred in 1834 when President Andrew Jackson demanded payment for some property destroyed during the Napoleonic Wars. France severed diplomatic relations. But the incident subsided and cultural exchanges resumed, including the much heralded visit by Alexis de Tocqueville, author of "Democracy in America" (1835).
In the 1840s Britain and France favored continued independence of the Republic of Texas, and considered blocking U.S. moves to obtain California. Britain wanted to keep western territories out of U.S. power. France opposed British intervention for the same reasons that France sold Louisiana to the U.S. and had supported the American Revolution, to limit British power. Whether intended or not, the majority of territorial growth in the continental U.S. was accomplished with French support.
During the American Civil War, France favored the seceding states of the Confederacy. But as France was too weak to go to war, fearing attack by Prussia, and Britain was unwilling, intervention didn't happen. However, Napoleon III took advantage of American preoccupation with the war to install Austrian Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg to the throne in Mexico. Celebration of the Mexican victory over the French on May 5, 1862 is the origin of the Cinco de Mayo celebration still observed today.
The U.S. exerted diplomatic pressure to persuade Napoleon III to withdraw French troops from Mexico. The removal of Napoleon III in 1870 improved Franco-American relations for several decades, symbolized by the Statue of Liberty, presented in 1884 as gift to the US from the French people. Many French held the U.S. as a land of opportunity and as a source of modern ideas. In 1906 when the German Empire challenged French influence in Morocco, President Theodore Roosevelt sided with the French.
During WWI, the U.S. remained neutral until entering the conflict in 1917, with over a million combat troops. With allied victory, President Woodrow Wilson became a hero for the French. However, Wilson and French Premier Clemenceau clashed regarding debts, reparations, and restraints on Germany. Clemenceau wanted a buffer state consisting of German territory west of the Rhine, and harsh terms. Wilson believed that peace and prosperity required Germany's integration into the world economic and political community as an equal partner.
Next week: Continued U.S.-French vacillations
- John Waelti of Monroe can be reached at jjwaelti1@tds.net. His column appears Fridays in the Monroe Times.
