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After being reelected to his second term as president, George Washington decided to concentrate on foreign policy issues. The most pressing issues were with the British, and to deal with them Washington sent the Supreme Court Chief Justice to London to talk with the British leadership. The Americans had a number of issues they wanted dealt with:

• Britain was still occupying a number of forts on U.S. territory in the Great Lakes region.
• American merchants wanted compensation for goods and ships confiscated during the War of Independence.
• Southerners wanted compensation for the slaves the British had taken from them during the revolution.
• Merchants also wanted the British West Indies reopened to American trade.

Jay's negotiations with the British were not particularly successful. The British agreed to vacate the western forts, and to compensate American ship owners. In compensation, the British got most-favoured-nation trading status from the Americans. The British refused to give any more compensation, however, unless the United States provided compensation for the vast amounts of Loyalist property seized after the revolution. The British also refused to allow trade between the U.S. and the Caribbean.

However the treaty failed to deal with two other issues between the nations, the impressment of sailors and the debts owed by way of compensation to Loyalists. In effect, however, it was not so much implemented as set in motion and never completed. It was ultimately overtaken by the Treaty of Ghent.

The treaty was submitted to the United States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the United States Congress, smaller than the U. House of Representatives. Together, they compose the legislative branch of the United States government. Seal of the Senate Each state elects two senators throu for ratification on June 8June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. Events 536 St. Silverius becomes Pope (probable date). 1776 American Revolutionary War: Battle of Trois-Rivieres American invaders are driven bac, 1795. The Senate passed a resolution on June 24June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. Events 1128 Battle of St. Mamede, near Guimaraes. Portuguese forces led by Afonso I beat his mother D. Teresa and D. Fernao Peres de Trava. advising the president to amend the treaty by suspending the 12th article, which concerned trade between the U.S. and the West Indies. On August 14August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. Events 1040 Assassination of King Duncan of Scotland by Macbeth. 1385 1383-1385 Crisis: Castilians are defeated by Portuguese at the Battle of, the Senate ratified the treaty with the condition that the treaty contain specific language regarding the June 24th resolution. The treaty was ratified by Great Britain on October 28October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining. Events 306 Maxentius is proclaimed Roman emperor. 312 Battle of Milvian Bridge: Constantine the Great defeats the forces of Maxentius. Roman e, 1795. Ratifications were exchanged in London on October 28, 1795 and proclaimed on February 29, 1796.

The American people were very displeased with this settlement, and there were many protests against Jay and his treaty. Alexander Hamilton, however, convinced Washington it was the best treaty that could be expected, and Washington agreed to sign it. This action caused Thomas Jefferson to start forming an active and open opposition group to Hamilton and his associates. They began to call themselves Republicans, and would later morph into the Democratic Party.