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Lesson

George Washington and Jay’s Treaty

Guiding question

How did the actions of President George Washington with respect to Jay’s Treaty of 1795 define the role of the President as Chief Diplomat?

Duration
50 min
Published
Jun 22, 2021
Jay's Treaty Treaty of Amity Commerce and Navigation between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America by their President with the Advice and Consent of their Senate Conditionally Ratified
In his every action, President George Washington recognized the significance of the precedents he set. His efforts to implement constitutional provisions in order to steer the United States through an early foreign policy challenge resulted in Jay’s Treaty—a pact vilified in its own time, but ultimately vital in keeping the United States out of a war with Britain.

Objectives:

Students will:

  • Understand the issues at stake in Jay’s Treaty.
  • Trace President Washington’s application of constitutional principles to Jay’s Treaty.
  • Evaluate the significance of Washington’s actions in establishing precedent in treaty making.

Materials

  • Handout A: George Washington and Jay’s Treaty
  • Handout B: Setting the Scene
  • Handout C: George Washington’s Message to the House
  • Handout D: Vocabulary and Context Questions

Lesson Components

ActivityHandout A: George Washington and Jay’s Treaty
ActivityHandout B: Setting the Scene (Jay’s Treaty)
ActivityHandout C: George Washington’s Message to the House
ActivityHandout D: Vocabulary and Context Questions (Jay’s Treaty)
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Lesson plan

50 minClick a phase to open it

More Information

To create a context for this lesson, students complete Constitutional Connection: The President as Chief Diplomat.

Standards

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