3. Washington longed to retire to his fields at Mount Vernon. But he soon realized that the Nation under its Articles of Confederation was not functioning well, so he became a prime mover in the steps leading to the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. When the new Constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected Washington President.
He did not infringe upon the policy making powers that he felt the Constitution gave Congress. But the determination of foreign policy became preponderantly a Presidential concern. When the French Revolution led to a major war between France and England, Washington refused to accept entirely the recommendations of either his Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who was pro-French, or his Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, who was pro-British. Rather, he insisted upon a neutral course until the United States could grow stronger. —WhiteHouse.gov
a. Why did Jefferson and Hamilton want to adopt a policy of neutrality?
Jefferson wanted to adopt a policy of neutrality because he believed that the United States should support the French Revolution, which he saw as a continuation of the American Revolution and a fight for liberty and democracy. Hamilton, on the other hand, wanted to adopt a policy of neutrality because he believed that maintaining a neutral stance would protect American trade and economic interests, which were closely tied to Britain.
I need a shorter response
Jefferson wanted to support the French Revolution and its ideals of liberty and democracy. Hamilton wanted to protect American trade and economic interests, which were tied to Britain.
To understand why Jefferson and Hamilton wanted to adopt a policy of neutrality, we need to look at the context of the French Revolution and the situation that the United States was facing at that time. The French Revolution, which began in 1789, resulted in a conflict between France and England, known as the French Revolutionary Wars.
Thomas Jefferson, who served as Secretary of State under President Washington, was sympathetic to the French cause. He believed in the principles of the French Revolution, such as equality and democracy, and felt that the United States should support France in their struggle against the British monarchy. Jefferson saw an opportunity to strengthen the bonds between France and the United States, as France had previously been an ally during the American Revolutionary War.
On the other hand, Alexander Hamilton, who served as Secretary of the Treasury, advocated for a pro-British stance. Hamilton believed that the United States' economic prosperity relied heavily on trade with Britain. He saw Britain as a major trade partner and felt that supporting France could jeopardize American trade relationships and economic stability.
Given these differing perspectives and the potential consequences of taking sides in the conflict, Washington chose to adopt a policy of neutrality. He believed that it was in the best interest of the United States to avoid getting involved in the war between France and England. Washington wanted the country to focus on its internal development and become stronger before engaging in foreign conflicts. By staying neutral, the United States could maintain diplomatic relations with both sides and avoid entanglements that could harm its interests.