The Mississippi River Treaty: Travel Rights For Americans

The Treaty of Paris (1783) stipulated that the Mississippi River would be the western boundary of the United States and that it would be open to Americans for navigation. However, Spain closed the river to Americans in 1784, causing outrage and threats of war in the South. The Treaty of San Lorenzo, also known as Pinckney's Treaty (1795), resolved territorial disputes and granted American ships the right to free navigation of the Mississippi River, as well as duty-free transport through the port of New Orleans, then under Spanish control. This treaty enabled American settlers to continue their westward expansion and was popular, especially in the West and South.

The Treaty of Paris (1783)

The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, was a treaty between the American colonies and Great Britain that ended the American Revolution and recognised the United States as an independent nation. The treaty was named for the city in which it was negotiated and signed.

The treaty was negotiated by three American representatives: John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, who proved themselves ready for the world stage, achieving many of the objectives sought by the new United States. Two crucial provisions of the treaty were British recognition of U.S. independence and the delineation of boundaries that would allow for American western expansion.

The Treaty of Paris also stipulated that the Mississippi River would be open to Americans for navigation and that it would be the western boundary of the United States. This was significant as it gave Americans access to a vital waterway for trade and transportation, contributing to the country's economic development and expansion.

The treaty had a lasting impact on the relationship between the United States and Native American tribes, as it set the stage for further negotiations and treaties regarding land ownership and sovereignty. The Mississippi River, in particular, became a point of contention, with the United States seeking to establish control over the river and the surrounding territory.

The Mississippi River's navigation rights

The Mississippi River was a vital waterway for trade and communication in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The river served as a major transportation route, connecting the United States' eastern and western territories. However, the issue of navigation rights on the Mississippi River caused significant controversy and divisiveness during the Confederation Period.

Following the Revolutionary War, the Treaty of Paris (1783) stipulated that the Mississippi River would mark the western boundary of the United States and that Americans would have the right to navigate it. However, when Spain closed the river to American shipping in 1784, it sparked outrage and threats of war, particularly from Southerners who relied on the river for their economy.

The Spanish diplomat Don Diego de Gardoqui arrived in the United States in 1786 to negotiate with Secretary for Foreign Affairs John Jay. However, when news broke that Congress was considering abandoning America's right to navigate the Mississippi for 20 years, it caused a bitter reaction. The Southern delegates in Congress argued for the river's commercial importance to their region, while Westerners threatened to raise troops and drive the Spanish out. The issue even led to discussions of a potential Northern confederacy, as Westerners and Southerners were at odds with Northerners, who prioritised securing a commercial treaty with Spain that would benefit the Northern states.

The controversy over Mississippi navigation rights continued until the signing of the Treaty of San Lorenzo, also known as Pinckney's Treaty, in 1795. This treaty was a significant diplomatic success, resolving territorial disputes between the United States and Spain and granting American ships the right to free navigation of the Mississippi River, as well as duty-free transport through the Spanish-controlled port of New Orleans.

The Treaty of San Lorenzo was popular with the American public, especially in the West and South, as it enabled and encouraged westward expansion and made frontier areas more attractive and lucrative. It marked a shift in Spanish policies, which had previously focused on maintaining a strong buffer region in North America, and placed the United States in a stronger position relative to European powers.

Spain closing the river to Americans

The Treaty of Paris (1783) stipulated that the Mississippi River would be the western boundary of the United States and that it would be open to Americans for navigation. However, in 1784, Spain closed the river to Americans, causing uproar in the Southern states.

Spain Closes the Mississippi River to Americans

The closing of the Mississippi River to Americans by Spain in 1784 was a significant event that caused a lot of tension and almost led to war. The Southerners were furious and threatened war, while the Westerners were willing to go as far as raising troops and driving the Spanish out of the region. The Northerners also flirted with the idea of forming a Northern confederacy. The press kept the issue at the forefront, with prominent leaders like Patrick Henry expressing their strong opposition to relinquishing the navigation of the Mississippi. This incident highlighted the sectional divisiveness during the Confederation Period on this matter.

The closing of the river disrupted trade and settlement in frontier areas, which was already a source of tension between Spain and the United States. Spain's policy aimed to minimise American trade and settlement in these regions, which was in stark contrast to the interests of American citizens, especially those from the Southern and frontier states. The closure also impacted the economy of the Southern states, which relied heavily on the river as a commercial lifeline.

The United States sent John Jay to Madrid to negotiate the reopening of the Mississippi to Americans. However, these negotiations resulted in the Jay-Gardoqui Treaty, which ignored the Mississippi issue in favour of commercial advantages for the Northeast. This treaty was ultimately rejected by Congress, and the matter remained unresolved for another ten years.

The closing of the Mississippi River to Americans by Spain had significant political, economic, and social implications, highlighting the importance of the river in the development of the United States.

Treaty of San Lorenzo/ Pinckney's Treaty (1795)

The Treaty of San Lorenzo, also known as Pinckney's Treaty, was signed on October 27, 1795, between Spain and the United States. It was a significant diplomatic achievement for the US, resolving territorial disputes between the two countries and granting American ships the right to navigate the Mississippi River freely.

The treaty was negotiated by Thomas Pinckney, for whom the treaty is named, and Spanish Prime Minister Manuel de Godoy. It established the 31st parallel as the US-Florida border and granted the right to free navigation of the Mississippi River, which was enthusiastically supported by Americans west of the Appalachians. The treaty also voided Spanish guarantees of military support to Native Americans in the disputed regions, weakening their ability to resist US encroachment on their lands.

Prior to the treaty, the Mississippi River had been a source of tension between Spain and the US. While the US border extended to the river, its southern stretch remained in Spanish territory, and Spanish officials kept the river closed to American shipping. The treaty resolved this issue and encouraged American settlers to continue their westward expansion.

The Treaty of San Lorenzo was popular with the American public, particularly in the West and South, and strengthened the position of the Federalist Party in areas where it had traditionally been weak. It marked a shift in Spanish policies, which had previously aimed to maintain a strong buffer region in North America, and placed the US in a stronger position relative to European powers.

Southern delegates' reaction to the treaty

The Treaty of Paris (1783) stipulated that the Mississippi River would be open to Americans for navigation. However, when Spain closed the river to Americans in 1784, Southern delegates in Congress reacted with anger and belligerence, threatening war. They argued that the river was a commercial lifeline for their economy. When news broke that Congress had authorised John Jay to abandon the American right to navigate the river for twenty years, the Southern delegates' response was swift and bitter. They viewed the Mississippi crisis as a lesson and demanded a two-thirds vote when ratifying treaties, giving southern states veto power over any treaty that endangered their interests.

The closing of the Mississippi River to American navigation by the Spanish was a source of tension between Spain and the United States, and it had significant economic implications for southern states. The southern delegates' strong reaction to the threat of losing access to the river highlights its importance to their economy and their willingness to go to great lengths to protect their commercial interests.

In the lead-up to the Constitutional Convention, the southern delegates' demands for a two-thirds majority when ratifying treaties carried significant weight. Their insistence on having a veto power over treaties that affected their interests shaped the dynamics of treaty ratification and ensured that their concerns would be addressed.

The southern delegates' reaction to the threat of losing access to the Mississippi River demonstrates their recognition of the river's vital role in their economic well-being. It also underscores the political divisions within the country during that period and the southern states' determination to protect their interests through their power in Congress.

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