Navigating Neutrality

"Navigating Neutrality" explores the unexpected role George Washington's 1793 Neutrality Proclamation played in energizing the U.S. government's constitutional responsibilities to support and promote America's commercial and sovereign interests. Neutrality encompassed a wide range of issues, including diplomacy, law, defense, commerce, and domestic politics, and Moats investigates how its enforcement galvanized all three branches of the government and served as a manifesto of the young nation's quest to be respected as an independent country. As Moats argues, the pursuit of neutrality--with its far-reaching ramifications for American commerce and international affairs--helped build a U.S. government capable of supporting the young national's global aspirations.