Gov Relations Pre Spanish American War
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Government Relations
Government Relations: Pre Spanish-American War
Tyler J. Gregory Helms School of Government | Liberty University Author Note
The author has no known conflicts to disclose. All questions and remarks can be directed to the author at: tgregory29@liberty.edu
. 01/24/2024 By submitting this assignment, I attest this submission represents my own work, and not that of another student, scholar, or internet source. I understand I am responsible for knowing and correctly utilizing referencing and bibliographical guidelines.
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Abstract This paper examines the intricate relationship between the Executive and Legislative Branches of the United States government from the nation's founding to the Spanish-American War, focusing on their impact on a President’s pursuit of international relations and the projection of force. Additionally, the paper further examines the Congress and their critical impact on the President’s actions and projection of force. The study delves into historical events such as the Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817, the Convention of 1818, the First Seminole War and the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819, and congressional debates over issues like the Missouri Compromise and the recognition of Latin American independence. Analyzing the collaborative and conflicting interactions between the branches, the paper explores how Congress both facilitated and constrained James Monroe's presidency in matters of foreign policy and executive
actions such as exerting force and expanding US territory. The research emphasizes the art of balancing powers, the growth of executive leadership, and the establishment of precedents during
this critical period in U.S. history. By examining executive balance in terms of diplomacy and force, the purpose of the paper is to analyze how presidents within this significant time period in US history, utilized, moved forward with, and interacted with Executive and Legislative influence to project American force and conquer sovereignty. Keywords: Congress; President; Spanish; American; War; Power
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Government Relations: Pre Spanish-American War
International relations can be a complex subject that includes many theories, methodologies, and a messy recall of historical political motives. As most have heard the saying “there are two sides to every story”, history in most cases, resembles that remark very closely. International relations and the history of how branches of government coordinate and come to executive decisions is lengthy and dates back to the ancient times of 1000 BCE and earlier (oldest.org, 2023). However, some of the earliest foundations of this were found in the United States starting with the period following the country’s founding and extending to the years leading up to the Spanish-American War. This paper will further look into the interactions between the Executive and Legislative branches, their impact on the President when pursuing international relations and utilizing force, and how Congress would restrict these actions. The Pursuit of International Relations
Prior to the Spanish-American War, America had been tangled in a fairly good amount of
conflicts in today’s standards. Beginning in the late 1700s, the US began involving political parties in international decision-making processes and at the time, the Federalists and the Jeffersonians were at a crossroads on the feelings towards the French Revolution in 1789. While the Federalists and Alexander Hamilton wished to remain close to England and hold distrust in the French, the Jeffersonians and Thomas Jefferson took up supporting the new French Republic.
However, current US President George Washington decided to declare neutrality in the late 1790s when conflict in Europe between Britain, Spain, and France broke out. The US signed two
treaties in 1794 and 1795, The Jay Treaty with Britain (1794) and the Pinckney Treaty with Spain (1795), preserving neutrality and promoting international relations between the US and its allies (history.state.gov, 2016). The actions of President George Washington are reminders that
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there are ways to deal with problems in many ways, ways that include death and destruction to the men, women, and children that God placed on this Earth to love, and ways to preserve peace and hope. In the Doctrine and Covenants 98:16, the Lord declares that his Saints are to “renounce war and proclaim peace” (Skinner, 2022). Though the book of Doctrine and Covenants was not written until the mid 1800s, it can be inferred that perhaps President Washington was proclaiming peace rather than conflict because a peaceful conclusion to the problem was available, and any Saint of the Lord’s Kingdom should seek peace when available. The pursuit of international relations is much more than trade and a dollar amount as often seen today. For example, the Convention of 1818 and the Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817 marked a turning point in government relations between the United States, Canada, and Britain. The signing of the Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817 demilitarized the Great Lakes and established a much closer relationship with Britain. Additionally, the Convention of 1818 was signed to establish a permanent border at the 49
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parallel between the United States and Canada, an action that would prove to be fruitful throughout history (Uphaus-Conner, 2011). As one can see, Presidents oftentimes pursued international relations in a rather civil matter for as long as the United States Executive and Legislative branches would approve such actions.
A President’s Force: How was it Projected?
The United States President prior to the Spanish-American War had a much greater impact on exerting force as a nation compared to what is seen today. The reason for this, is because it was the President’s word against everyone else’s. Today, the President has many speakers, parties, and outlets that deliver executive action news, resulting in a much less impactful action of force. However, much like today, the Legislative and Executive branches of the government have heavy impacts on the President and his ability to utilize force as a means
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for international action. The United States, following the Treaty of Paris in 1783 felt as if the grand picture of westward expansion was being limited by Spain and Britain (Richbourg-Parker, 2017). Making forceful decisions seemed to be the answer for retaining land while expanding the
US borders both South and North. With the militarization of the Great Lakes and Northern borders following the War of 1812, the United States knew that Britain was weakened and was desperately in need of a diplomatic resolve compared to additional controversy. This ultimately forced the previously stated Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817 and the Convention of 1818. Through the close advisements of Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, the Executive branch would aim to sort the dispute through diplomatic measures and the signing of the Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817. With collaboration of the Legislative branch, the Treaty was approved and the US and Britain started a new international relationship, one with trust and security. Unlike this cordial interaction, just one year later, the United States would experience Legislative and Executive cabinet division when the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 was signed.
The First Seminole War
For six decades, Florida natives found themselves in the center of a tug-of-war match, one that involved three nations: Spain, Britain, and the United States. During the Presidency of James Monroe, the administration saw an increasing value in utilizing executive actions as an exercise of force and to, in the end, gain what is desired. Andrew Jackson, who would later become President of the United States led an unauthorized raid on the Florida Seminoles, an Indian tribe who resided in the Florida territory (dos.fl.gov, 2024). This launched the start of the First Seminole War in 1817 between the United States and the Seminole Tribe. Jackson’s forces pushed the Seminoles further South and eventually led to the capturing of the tribe. At this point in time, many United States settlers began making way into Florida and taking areas of land that
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belonged to the Spanish. Given the recent Napoleonic Wars and adversaries that Spain had been involved in oversees, they were economically depleted and unable to remain in the fight against the United States. This led to the Adams-Onis Treaty being signed in 1819 and ultimately Spain ceding Florida to the United States.
Executive and Legislative Impact on Power
To summarize the latter, General Jackson, knowing that Spain could not possibly afford to engage in additional conflict in a controversial territory, led an unauthorized raid on the land with hopes of expanding American territory. The plan worked out and the use of executive force led to the acquisition of Florida and the acknowledgment of Spanish sovereignty over Florida after redefining the limits on westward expansion following the Louisiana Purchase (history.state.gov, 2016). However, Jackson's actions, while effective in achieving their immediate goals, created controversy, and raised questions about the extent of executive force in international matters. Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun, disagreed with Jackson's take on his instructions to take military action in the South and urged President Monroe to punish Jackson for taking action without specific authority from the President. Members of Congress also demanded accountability for Jackson's unauthorized raid. However, Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, defended Jackson, arguing that his actions were within the scope of his orders to end the Indian raids on American settlers, showcasing a division between branches within the president's own cabinet (Feller, 2010). Ultimately, President Monroe sided with Adams, emphasizing the lack of control Spain had over the region and using the opportunity to pressure Spain into selling Florida to the United States. Monroe's decision to support Jackson, despite controversy within his administration and Congress, demonstrated the executive's ability to utilize its force in matters of military action and international affairs.
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Congressional Restrictions on Presidential Actions
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President James Monroe was an influential and well-regarded president in American history. However, there was significant resistance in his presidency by Congress, expressing the importance of coordination between the President and his cabinet. President Monroe is most famous for the Monroe Doctrine, a doctrine that is regarded as a significant foreign policy achievement. Though the doctrine was successful, Congress gave Monroe heavy pushback on the
delay of recognizing newly independent Latin American countries (McNamara, 2023). Members of Congress wanted to quickly recognize this achievement as it would give the United States an image of inclusiveness and power. However, Monroe wished to withhold the information out of fear that the European powers would create conflict, ultimately delaying the recognition until 1822. Similarly, in 1820 during the Missouri Compromise, when Missouri applied for statehood, being the first to apply west of the Mississippi, a massive controversy in the cabinet as it would allow for an imbalance in free and slave states (senate.gov, 2024). Though the congress involvement in the Missouri Compromise did not directly involve Monroe, it did heavily impact the influence of Congress in shaping national policy and addressing state sectional controversy and imbalances in statehood.
Conclusion
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To wrap up, the period from the founding of the United States to the Spanish-American War witnessed a significant amount of cooperation and conflict between the Executive and Legislative Branches, ultimately establishing the future of international relations in the US. Additionally, the interactions between the Congress and President shaped the expectations for utilizing force as an executive action. The pursuit of international relations, exemplified by President Monroe's actions, reflected a carefully articulated balance between diplomacy and force. The signing of treaties like the Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817 and the Convention of 1818 demonstrated successful collaborations between the President and Congress in achieving diplomatic resolutions. However, challenges came about, such as the delay in recognizing Latin American countries' independence, showcasing the impact of Congress in shaping foreign policy.
The use of force, notably in the First Seminole War, showed the benefits within the President's ability to project power, yet it also led to internal conflicts within the administration and Congress over the case of executive power. Congressional restrictions, as seen in debates over the Missouri Compromise and the delay in recognizing Latin American countries, undermined the Executive and Legislative branch’s checks and balances system. While Monroe's presidency faced limitations and controversies, it showed how much Congress’s influence on President’s actions can further shape the future and common international relations issues.
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References Eaton, V. (2023, September 3). 7 oldest governments in the world
. Oldest.org. https://www.oldest.org/politics/governments/ Feller, D. (2010). The Seminole Controversy Revisited: A new look at ... . https://www.jstor.org/stable/20700296. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=4533&context=fhq McNamara, T. E. (2023). The monroe doctrine after 200 years: A strategic hinge period in American history
. American Diplomacy Est 1996. https://americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2023/08/the-monroe-doctrine-after-200-years-a-
strategic-hinge-period-in-american-history/ Missouri compromise ushers in New Era for the Senate
. U.S. Senate: Missouri Compromise Ushers in New Era for the Senate. (2023, September 8). https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Missouri_Compromise.htm Preston, D. (2023, August 28). James Monroe: Foreign affairs
. Miller Center. https://millercenter.org/president/monroe/foreign-affairs Richbourg Parker, S. (2017). Changing Sovereigns and Settling Land Claims in Florida. https://www.teufelberger.com/media/contentmanager/content/downloads/RZ_Steel-
Industry-Folder_EN_12_07_21_web.pdf The seminole wars
. Florida Department of State. (2024). https://dos.fl.gov/florida-facts/florida-
history/seminole-history/the-seminole-wars/#:~:text=The%20First%20Seminole
%20War&text=Andrew%20Jackson%20invaded%20Spanish%20Florida,lure%20the
%20Indians%20to%20them.
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Skinner, A. (n.d.). “renounce war and proclaim peace”: Religious studies center
. “Renounce War and Proclaim Peace” | Religious Studies Center. https://rsc.byu.edu/nineteenth-
century-saints-war/renounce-war-proclaim-peace U.S. Department of State. (2016). Acquisition of Florida: Treaty of Adams-Onis (1819) and Transcontinental Treaty (1821)
. U.S. Department of State. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/florida#:~:text=Under%20the%20On
%C3%ADs%2DAdams%20Treaty,recognized%20Spanish%20sovereignty%20over
%20Texas. Uphaus-Conner, A. (2011, October 20). October 20 in history: Treaty of 1818 signed
. James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library. https://jamesmonroemuseum.umw.edu/2011/10/20/october-20-in-history-treaty-of-1818-
signed/