American Diplomacy

I. Treaty of Paris 1783 With Britain mainly

Great Britain Recognizes American Independence
Britain retains Canada
America has all colonies and Indian lands between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River

II. Jay's Treaty 1795 With Britain

Very controversial
U.S. must pay pre-Revolutionary War debts to British merchants
Gave British right to take French property from neutral ships
British had to remove military garrisons and end their aid to Indians
American merchants can submit claims of illegal seizure to arbitration

III. Treaty of Greenville 1795 With Native Americans

Recognized Indian ownership of trans-Appalachian West
While the Indians accepted American sovereignty

IV. Pinckney's Treaty 1795 With Spain

Allows American use of Mississippi River

V. Louisiana Purchase 1803 With France

Jefferson purchases Louisiana territory for $15 million

VI. Embargo Act 1807 Towards Britain and France

Prohibits American ships from trading with Britain and France until those countries repealed their restrictions of American trade
Hurts America more than Britain and France

VII. Treaty of Ghent 1814 With Britain

Ends War of 1812
Restores prewar borders of the U.S.

VIII. Adams-Onis Treaty 1819 With Spain

America gets Florida
America takes responsibility for citizens financial claims against Spain
America renounced idea that Spanish Texas was part of Louisiana Purchase
Agreed on compromise boundary between New Spain and state of Louisiana

IX. Indian Removal Act 1830 Towards Native Americans

Native Americans to give up ancestral lands for new provided territory of present-day Oklahoma and Kansas

X. Treaty With Britain over Oregon territory 1846

Polk accept British proposal to divide Oregon region at the forty-ninth parallel abandoning stance of "fifty-four forty or fight"

XI. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848

U.S. pays Mexico $15 million for more than one-third of its territory; Texas north of Rio Grande, New Mexico, and California
America assumes all claims of citizens against Mexican government

A. California

B. Texas

C. New Mexico

XII. John Slidell's Diplomatic venture to Mexico City

Instructed to secure Mexico's acceptance of Rio Grande border for Texas
Also, sent to buy Mexican provinces of New Mexico and California
Mexican officials refuse to see him

XIII. Gadsen Purchase

A.

American Generals

I. Washington

General in Revolutionary War
Strategy leads to American victory
Battles do not gain territory, but rather defends it

II. Jackson

War of 1812 war hero at battle of New Orleans
No territory gained due to efforts, rather defends it and builds spirits

III. Harrison

War of 1812 war hero against combined British and Indian force
Again, no territory is gained
Also, put down many Indian Resistances such as the battle of Tippecanoe

A. Native American Conflict and Resistance

Winners: Generals

The majority of diplomacies with the Indians were not followed by both the Indians and the Americans. An example is the Indian Removal Act in which, the Indians decided they did not want to leave their ancestral grounds, however, American brute force led to their removal with the trail of tears. Also, generals like Harrison had both the manpower and weapons to destroy Native Americans at battles such as Tippecanoe. In this way generals and their brute force were much more efficient than diplomats.

IV. Taylor

General in Mexican War
Led to control of Texas, New Mexico, and California

V. Fremont

Famous for role in the conquest of California
Through military garrison in California Mexican residents were encouraged to declare independence

Revolutionary War

Winner: Draw

With Washington's strategagies all leading up to the diplomacies of treaties and such, it appears as though the victory should go to the generals. However, Washington's postive efforts were not as effective as the British's futile efforts were in gaining America there independence. Essentially, what won the war was not generals or diplomats, but rather the people, the citizens of the U.S. The people would not allow for British oppresion. So with that the match is a draw.

Mexican War and Conflict

Winner: American Generals

Attempts at diplomacy, like Slidell's venture to Mexico City, ultimately were useless and a waste of time. The way America gained Mexican lands and won the Mexican War was through the commands of generals such as Taylor and Fremont.

Overall Winners

I. Generals

War of 1812

Winners: Diplomats

Although some diplomacies, like the Embargo Act, ultimately failed, the victory still goes the diplomats. Perhaps this victory comes due to the futile efforts of generals, with Jackson's famous battle of New Orleans appearing after the war was over. Basically, the whole war accomplished very little on the part of the generals and the diplomacies undid any backtracks.