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Difficulty: EasyPolitics, Hamilton's Plan, and Foreign Policy in the New Republic

Read the excerpt below:

"The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none; or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns."
— President George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796

Based on this excerpt, which foreign policy position did President George Washington advocate for the United States?

  1. A
    Forming a permanent military alliance with Great Britain to counter French influence
  2. Avoiding permanent political alliances with European nations while maintaining trade relationsAnswer
  3. C
    Fulfilling the pro-French stance of the Democratic-Republicans by actively intervening in European wars
  4. D
    Reverting to the foreign policy of the Articles of Confederation by allowing individual states to negotiate their own trade treaties

Answer

Avoiding permanent political alliances with European nations while maintaining trade relations
The correct answer is correct because the excerpt explicitly instructs the nation to have 'as little political connection as possible' with foreign powers while expanding commercial relations. This formed the basis of the United States' early foreign policy of neutrality.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided text from George Washington's Farewell Address.
Identify that Washington advises extending commercial ties while keeping political connections as limited as possible.
This establishes Washington's core argument regarding foreign affairs.
2
Evaluate the historical context of Washington's foreign policy challenges during his presidency.
Recognize that the U.S. faced pressure to take sides in the conflicts between Great Britain and France.
This links the primary source to the broader historical debate between neutrality and alliance.
3
Match Washington's advice with the correct policy option.
Conclude that his recommendation corresponds to neutrality and the avoidance of permanent alliances.
This identifies the correct choice based on direct evidence in the excerpt.

Key Concept

Washington's Farewell Address and the development of the foreign policy of neutrality in the Early Republic.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Politics, Hamilton's Plan, and Foreign Policy in the New Republic

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