What diplomatic problems did the french revolution and the war that followed pose for the united states? How did Washington and Congress deal with this problem?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France%E2%80%93United_States_relations#The_French_Revolution_and_Napoleon

http://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/FrenchRev

http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/Our_Country_vol_2/effectsof_bfi.html

The French Revolution and the war that followed (French Revolutionary Wars) posed significant diplomatic problems for the United States. At the time, the United States was a young nation and recognized France as an important ally since the American Revolution.

The French Revolution, starting in 1789, led to the overthrow of the French monarchy and the rise of the radical Jacobins who executed King Louis XVI. The revolution soon turned violent and caused political instability in France. In 1793, France declared war on Great Britain, which resulted in the French Revolutionary Wars, also known as the Napoleonic Wars.

The United States faced several challenges:

1. The conflict between France and Britain: The United States had to navigate the tensions between their close ally France and their trade partner, Britain. Both France and Britain attempted to restrict American trade with the other, leading to the violation of American neutrality rights.

2. Pressure to support France: France expected the United States to support them in their war against Britain, invoking the Treaty of Alliance (1778) signed during the American Revolution. However, President George Washington and his administration considered the United States too weak to engage in a full-scale war and maintained a policy of neutrality.

3. The XYZ Affair: In 1797, tensions escalated when French officials demanded bribes from American diplomats during negotiations. This event, known as the XYZ Affair, damaged relations between the two countries and led to "quasi-war" at sea.

To deal with these problems, President George Washington, and later President John Adams, pursued a policy of neutrality. This involved:

1. Issuing the Neutrality Proclamation (1793): Washington declared that the United States would remain neutral in the conflict between France and Britain. This proclamation allowed American merchants to continue trading with both countries.

2. Jay Treaty (1795): To address the tensions with Britain, Chief Justice John Jay negotiated a treaty that sought to resolve issues such as trade disputes, the evacuation of British troops from American forts, and compensation for seized American ships. The Jay Treaty was controversial but helped avert war.

3. Adams' diplomacy: President John Adams attempted to improve relations with France by sending diplomats for negotiations. Despite the XYZ Affair tarnishing these efforts, Adams managed to negotiate the Convention of 1800, which ended the "quasi-war," restored peaceful relations, and nullified the Treaty of Alliance.

In summary, the French Revolution and the subsequent war posed diplomatic challenges for the United States. To navigate these problems, Washington and Congress pursued a policy of neutrality, issuing the Neutrality Proclamation and negotiating treaties such as the Jay Treaty. Adams' administration also sought diplomatic solutions, leading to the Convention of 1800, which helped restore peaceful relations with France.