Essential Facts
Background
- Britain and France were at war with each other during the Napoleonic Wars.
- They were using blockades and trade embargoes to disrupt each other’s trade with foreign nations, such as the United States.
- The 1805 Essex Decision by British courts subjected U.S. ships to seizure by the British Royal Navy, per the Rule of 1756.
Negotiations
- American commissioners James Monroe and William Pinkney negotiated a favorable treaty with the British government that eased enforcement of the Rule of 1756.
- President Thomas Jefferson rejected the treaty because it did not address key issues.
Additional Details
- American merchants were allowed to carry goods to and from enemy colonies in the West Indies to unblockaded ports in Europe.
- They had to use “Broken Voyages” and pay duties.
- The treaty failed to address two key issues:
- Impressment of American sailors by the British Royal Navy.
- Compensation for losses suffered by American merchants due to the Essex Decision.
- The British approved the treaty, but Jefferson’s refusal to send it to the Senate killed it.
Significance
The Monroe-Pinkney Treaty is important to American History because it was part of the trade war between Britain and France that affected the United States during the New Nation Era. Although the U.S. tried to defend its trade rights as a neutral nation, Britain continued to harass American ships, which contributed to the outbreak of the War of 1812.
Monroe-Pinkney Treaty APUSH
The Monroe-Pinkney Treaty is part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History curriculum:
Unit 4: 1800–1848
- Topic 4.4 — America on the World Stage
American Pageant Notes
- Chapter 11 — Triumphs and Travails of the Jeffersonian Republic (1800–1812)
- Chapter 12 — The Second War for Independence and the Upsurge of Nationalism (1812–1824)
American History Central
- Foreign Affairs in the New Nation
- War of 1812 — Causes of the War, Maritime Disputes
Vocabulary
Broken Voyages and Continuous Voyages — Broken Voyages were trips made by merchant ships that loaded goods in a neutral port (in America) before sailing to a port in a nation at war with Britain, such as France or Spain. This allowed goods to be shipped from Spanish Colonies in North America to Spain and bypassed the Rule of 1756. Under the rule, neutral ships making a Continuous Voyage from an enemy port (in New Spain) to an enemy nation (Spain) could be seized by British authorities. However, many American merchants stopped unloading their cargo in the neutral ports before sailing to their final destination. Eventually, British officials decided to put a stop to this because they considered a journey that did not unload cargo to be a Continuous Voyage. Ships were required to show documentation that proved they had followed the proper process for shipping goods.
