In this Virginia History Blog on New Nation Diplomacy and War, two titles are about diplomacy. “Revolutionary Negotiations” traces American diplomacy relating to the European Westphalia system from the Continental Congress through the “Jackson Doctrine” to the Monroe Doctrine.
“Borderlines and Borderlands” addresses Madison’s belief that the law of nations entitled the U.S. to acquire the territories of the North American continent from Europeans and Native Americans. “The War of 1812 in the Chesapeake” is a reference guide to historic sites.
Revolutionary Negotiations
Leonard J. Sadosky wrote Revolutionary Negotiations: Indians, Empires, and Diplomats in the Founding of America in 2010. Available from the University of Virginia Press, and online new and used.
This book connects diplomatic history, constitutional history and ethnohistory. Sadosky demonstrates that negotiations with Indians were central to the development of American diplomacy. The key was to create “sovereign” entities to act as states for diplomacy with which to then establish trade, to ally militarily, and for Native Americans to formally surrender territory. In this way the American colonies created a system that served to incorporate them into the European nation-state Westphalian system of diplomacy.
In the colonial era, private adventurers, then British agents and royal governors sought to shape relations with natives by picking favorites among tribal chieftains to be the trade partners and war allies. Congress used the experience to craft a Model Treaty for use with Indian Tribes and potential European allies. In the New Nation, Republican administrations sought trade for mutual consumption. A Jackson Doctrine sought to cut Indian nations off from European diplomacy, and the Monroe Doctrine sought to isolate the newly independent Latin American republics from the European Westphalian system.
To buy “Revolutionary Negotiations” on Amazon, click here.
Borderlines in Borderlands
J. C. A. Stagg wrote Borderlines in Borderlands: James Madison and the Spanish-American Frontier, 1776-1821 in 2009. It is available from the Yale University Press, and online new and used.
This diplomatic history investigates President James Madison’s policy towards the Spanish borderlands. Stagg posits that in the Model Treaty of 1776, the U.S. Congress intended to supplant old world nations on the entire North American continent. Madison’s 1780 committee work as a Virginia delegate in the Continental Congress justified the U.S. acquiring territory under the law of nations. Madison’s administrations 1809-1817 consistently furthered this goal in East Florida, West Florida, and Texas. His contributions culminated in John Quincy Adam’s Transcontinental Treaty of 1819, extending the United States territorial claims through former Spanish possessions to the Pacific. Spain had lost important support among the European powers and acceded to the terms Madison proposed in 1816.
Spain resisted the U.S. claims to West Florida and Texas brought by the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon. Madison, responding to settler petitions and revolts against Spanish rule, sent federal agents into all three Spanish provinces (Floridas and Texas) to lay the groundwork for eventual annexation by the United States. The account is filled with willful re-interpretation of instructions and self-serving ambition among diplomats, governors, charges d’affaires, naval officers, and American filibusters.
To buy “Borderlines in Borderlands” on Amazon, click here.
The War of 1812 in the Chesapeake
Ralph E. Eshelman, Scott S. Sheads, and Donald R. Hickey wrote The War of 1812 in the Chesapeake: A Reference Guide to Historic Sites in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia in 2010. Available from the Johns Hopkins University Press, and online new and used.
During the War of 1812, the British Navy under Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn established a naval blockade of the Chesapeake Bay to divert American resources from their offensive operations in Canada. Under the cover of naval superiority, more than 160 raids and battles were fought in the region, nearly all were favorable for the British. In 1813, the city of Hampton, Virginia was burned, and in 1814, Washington DC government buildings were also.
Among the three authors, Donald R. Hickey, a historian of the War of 1812 gives context and myth debunking. Chapters are organized for Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Scott S. Sheads is an author and lecturer on the war. The 124 entries for Virginia range from the skirmish at Farnham Church to the U.S. victory at Craney Island. Ralph E. Eshelman is experienced in material culture. Landmarks include the “Light Horse Harry” Lee House and the Long Bridge connecting Virginia with Washington DC.
To buy “War of 1812 in the Chesapeake” on Amazon, click here.
See Also
Current releases related to Virginia history in other eras from Spring 2018 journals can be found in previous Virginia History Blogs at Colonial Virginia – Spring 2018, Revolutionary Virginia – Spring 2018, and Civil War Virginia – Spring 2018, and New South and Modern Virginia – Spring 2018.
Summer journal titles begin with the Colonial Virginia Era i , Colonial Virginia Era ii, Revolution and New Nation, and Jefferson and Madison.
The TVH webpage for Revolution, Constitution and New Nation Eras 1750-1824, features our top title picks taken from the bibliographies of three surveys of Virginia History’s 400 years: two that are widely used in Virginia college courses, and one to be published by the University of Virginia Press in 2019. Titles are organized by topics related to Political and Economic Virginia, Social, Gender, Religious, African American Virginia, and Wars in Virginia during this time span.
The Table of Contents divides Political and Economic Virginia, 1750-1824 into Revolution and Constitution Policy, and New Nation Policy. Topical history is treated under headings of Social History, Gender in Virginia, Religious Virginia and African American Virginian. Finally, two wars are featured under American Revolution and the War of 1812.
General surveys of Virginia History can be found at Virginia History Surveys. Other Virginia history divided by topics and time periods can be found at the webpage Books and Reviews.
Note: Insights for these reviews include those available from articles in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary Quarterly, the Journal of the Civil War Era, the Journal of Southern History and the Journal of American History.