As discussed in class, moving froward from the revolutionary war, America was bruised and tired. Historians speculate that if the British had quickly reorganized their military and come back at the states defeat for America was likely. Because of the country's need to rebuild, when France called the new country for aid against Britain, Washington was hesitant to join and thus, issued the Proclamation of Neutrality which was America's first act of foreign policy. Washington states in the proclamation that he politely seeks for neutrality of America and the different European powers. He later adds that this policy will be strict and warns American citizens to be careful in their foreign actions because the citizens of the country must also reflect this neutral policy. This was a smart move as while there was opposition of this proclamation because France aided the rebellion, overall it secured future trading partners and kept the US out so they could rebuild.
America also issued a statement of neutrality at the beginning of the great war however tension slowly began to rise after Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare and the US eventually joined the war because of the interception of the Zimmerman telegram.
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