We are pleased to be presenting the following PowerPoint presentation on July 31 to the Florida Council for History Education: The Diplomacy of Jay’s Treaty:
Washington’s Leadership, the Divisive Ratification Process and Hamilton’s Camillus Essays
Here is a link to the Jay’s Treaty PowerPoint presentation for the FLCHE: https://www.statutesandstories.com/blog_html/jays-treaty-powerpoint/
The PowerPoint is based on the following three articles on Statutesandstories.com:
- Jay’s Treaty Part 1 (background, controversy, treaty terms)
- Jay’s Treaty Part 2 (presidential leadership, bitter ratification and funding battle)
- Jay’s Treaty Part 3 (Hamilton’s Camillus essay’s defending the treaty)
Copied below are links to primary sources for educators and students:
JAY’S TREATY – PRIMARY SOURCES
CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING JAY’S TREATY
Washington’s July 3, 1795 letter to Hamilton requesting input on Jay’s Treaty: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-18-02-0275
Hamilton’s written observations for Washington on Jay’s Treaty (July 9?): https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-18-02-0281
Washington’s July 13, 1795 reply to Hamilton: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-18-02-0291
Washington’s July 28, 1795 letter to Boston Citizens explaining his support for Jay’s Treaty: https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw2.040/?sp=28&st=text
Jefferson’s September 21, 1795 letter famously imploring Madison “[f]or god’s sake take up your pen, and give a fundamental reply to Curtius & Camillus”: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-16-02-0052
John Adams’ April 19, 1796 letter to Abigail describing that it is “difficult to see how we can avoid war” with Britain if the House denied funding for the treaty: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-04-02-0136
Washington’s May 1, 1796 letter to Charles Carroll explaining his reasons for supporting Jay’s Treaty: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-20-02-0073
Washington’s May 8, 1796 letter to John Jay discussing the aftermath of the Treaty: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-20-02-0085
JAY’S TREATY, NEUTRALITY ACT of 1794 & RELATED TREATIES
Treaty of Alliance between US and France (2/6/1778): https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fr1788-2.asp
Treaty of Paris ending Revolutionary War (9/30/1783): https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/paris.asp
Neutrality Act of 1794: https://archive.org/details/actspassedatthir1794unit/page/96/mode/2up?view=theater
Jay’s Treaty: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/jay.asp
CAMILLUS ESSAYS BY HAMILTON
Camillus essay number I by Alexander Hamilton: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-18-02-0305-0002
Camillus essay number 2 by Alexander Hamilton: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-18-02-0310
Camillus essay number 3 by Alexander Hamilton: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-18-02-0317
Link to other Camillus essays: https://founders.archives.gov/search/Author%3A%22%E2%80%9CCamillus%E2%80%9D%22
MISCELLANEOUS PRIMARY SOURCES FOR JAY’S TREATY
Jay’s Treaty Primary Documents (Library of Congress): https://guides.loc.gov/jays-treaty
Washington’s letter to Senate nominating John Jay as Envoy Extraordinary to Britain: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/exhibitions/artifact/president-george-washingtons-nomination-john-jay-envoy-extraordinary-his
Senate roll call vote on ratification of Jay’s Treaty (June 24, 1795): https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/exhibitions/artifact/senate-roll-call-jay-treaty-june-24-1795
Washington’s message to the House regarding funding for Jay’s Treaty (March 30, 1796): https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.04500200/?sp=1
House Debate on Jay’s Treaty – Fisher Ames warns against the House violating a lawfully ratified treaty. He feared that despite his poor health, he might outlive the nation if the House sabotaged the treaty. [Annals of Congress at pages 1239 – 1263]: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$c227003&view=1up&seq=626&skin=2021