The purpose of Washington's neutrality proclamation was to declare that the United States would remain neutral in the ongoing war between Britain and France, which had broken out following the French Revolution. Washington believed that it was in the best interests of the young nation to avoid getting involved in European conflicts and to maintain peace and trade with both sides. The proclamation also served to assert the authority of the federal government in foreign policy matters and to establish a precedent for American presidents to proclaim neutrality in times of international conflicts.
