![]() Soon the conflict threatened to engulf the United States. These conflicting loyalties clashed in February 1793, when the Revolutionary regime in France declared war on Great Britain. Both sides demonstrated their preferences through clothing-the Federalists wore black cockades on their hats or pinned to their dresses, while the Democratic-Republicans adopted the blue, red, and white cockade. Democratic-Republicans, like Jefferson, opposed the violence but remained more loyal to the French. Federalists, like Washington and Hamilton, distrusted the radicalism of the French Revolution and feared the anarchy would spread to North American shores. ![]() The violence of the French Revolution horrified many Americans. By July 1794, when Robespierre was deposed, at least 16,000 people had been executed, most by the infamous guillotine. Following the royal executions, a more radical regime assumed power under the leadership of Maximilien Robespierre, known as the Reign of Terror for its regular executions of suspected spies and traitors. However, the French Revolution devolved into anarchy and violence, culminating in the execution of the king and queen in 1793. Initially, Americans cheered the French Revolution as the natural successor to the American version, especially since many revolutionaries, such as the Marquis de Lafayette, had played important roles in both revolutions. Over the next few years, the assembly passed constitutional reforms before forming the French Republic in September 1792. In 1789, King Louis XVI summoned the Estates-General (the French version of the legislature). While those challenges tested Washington’s patience, they were nothing compared to the threat posed by the French Revolution and the subsequent war between France and Great Britain. Spanish imperial forces denied critical trade access to the Mississippi River, and settlements in Florida welcomed enslaved people who escaped from the southern colonies. British forces provided ammunition and funds for Native American nations to attack western towns. During Washington’s first term, European powers sought every opportunity to undermine American sovereignty. Washington’s foreign policy focused on protecting the independence of the new nation and avoiding expensive and deadly wars. ![]()
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