The Jay - Gardoqui Treaty of 1789

Even though not ratified under the Articles of Confederation, the United States of America and the nation of Spain signed what was known as the Jay - Gardoqui Treaty of 1789. This treaty gave exclusive rights to Spain and its sailing vessels to navigate through the waters of the Mississippi River for at least 30 years. The United States, on the other hand, received access to Spain's Western Indian and European seaports to United States shipping.

The states in the union were not fully under the control of United States Congress, which was a threat to national stability economically and internationally. The empire of Great Britain even ignored some provisions of the Paris agreement and had troops stationed on American soil just long enough for a peace treaty to be negotiated. In 1784, Spain closed the New Orleans port to America, this then prompted United States Congress to send in an emissary to Madrid, Spain to discuss terms for the reopening of the Mississippi River to America. John Jay, however, signed a treaty (the Jay - Gardoqui treaty) which gave economic advantage to the Northeast as a trade - off. America also claimed lands located within the west which was currently occupied by Spaniard and British military personnel, but would not challenge for it with force.

The United States Army numbered less than 100 men in 1784. There was no way America would mount any military challenge against Spain or Britain. From 1790 - 1815, in the United States of America, foreign affairs were the norm for much of the political public life of the young nation. Even with victories in the American Revolutionary War, America would have no strong military army or navy to actually keep it from invasion or to campaign a war at home or abroad. It carried very little weigh in world view too.