18th century

Question 1

1776

Answer 1

Thirteen Colonies declared independence as the United States of America on July 2; Declaration of Independence adopted on July 4.

Question 2

1777

Answer 2

France decides to recognize America in December after the first American victory over the British at Saratoga, New York.

Question 3

1778

Answer 3

Treaty of Alliances: America and France agreed to come to each others’ aid in event of a British attack from the present time and forever; abrogated in 1800.

Question 4

1783

Answer 4

Treaty of Paris: ends War of Independence; U.S. boundaries confirmed as British North America (Canada) on north, Mississippi River on west, Florida on south.

Question 5

1795

Answer 5

Jay Treaty: the treaty with Britain averts war and opens 10 years of peaceful trade with Britain, but fails to settle neutrality issues; the British eventually evacuate western forts; boundary lines and debts (in both directions) to be settled by arbitration. Barely approved by Senate after revision; intensely opposed, became major issue in formation of First Party System (Federalists v. Democratic Republicans).

Question 6

1797

Answer 6

XYZ Affair: diplomatic controversy between France and the U.S.; humiliation of American emissaries by French diplomats; large loan asked from U.S. for France’s renunciation of the Treaty of Alliances of 1778 indignantly rejected by U.S.; because of threat of war with France, the Navy Department was established in U.S. in 1798. Tensions in Franco-American relations lead to the 1798-1800 Quasi-War, an undeclared naval war with France.