On This Day In 1793: Neutrality Proclaimed
On April 22, 1793, George Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality, keeping America from any entanglement with a war raging between Britain and France, which had engulfed a number of European countries.
Within Washington’s cabinet Thomas Jefferson opposed neutrality while Alexander Hamilton championed it. Although Jefferson would not ultimately have his way on the issue, he did see to it that the word “neutrality” be taken out of the document and replaced with “impartial.’ The move had little effect on the proclamation, which proclaimed America’s role in world conflict as neutral and placed legal proceedings against any American who aided either of the warring sides. The Neutrality Act of 1794 would follow in the proclamation’s footsteps.
