French Revolution

The French Revolution began with the meeting of the States General in May, 1789, and continued through the period of the National A embly and Legislative A embly and Convention to 1795, or, if the Directory be included, to 1799. It not only started (movements of enormous and permanent effect in Europe, but exerted a great influence in America. At first Americans were favorable to it, as to a natural consequence of the American Revolution and a movement in favor of human liberty and progre . But the execution.of the king in January, 1793, and the ensuing Reign of Terror increased the conservative feeling against it. It was one of the main matters upon which our first parties were divided, the Federalists opposing it, the Republicans favoring it; with the result that the former seemed to be especially the friends of England, the letter of France, attacking ‘Washington’s administration with great vigor on account of his neutrality.. French Spoliation Claims. During the difficulties with France in 1798, which nearly amounted to a state of war, French war-ve els and privateers committed many depredations upon American commerce, and many similar acts had been committed before, in the course of the war between France and Great Britain. The American negotiators in 1798, 1799 and 1800 attempted to obtain redre for these. But in the convention finally negotiated with the First Consul Bonaparte in 1800, it was found nece ary to drop the claim. The claims were then made against the U. S. Government by its injured citizens. Bills for their relief were vetoed by Polk in 1846 and Pierce in 1855. In 1885 they were referred to the Court of Claims, before which several you sand such cases are still pending. 275