1793-February-01: Following the outbreak of war between Great Britain and France, the United States found itself in a difficult position regarding its pledge…

1793-February-01: Following the outbreak of war between Great Britain and France, the United States found itself in a difficult position regarding its pledge to defend French possessions in the Caribbean “forever.” While the treaty of 1778 technically obligated the U.S. to protect Saint-Domingue, the Washington administration was determined to maintain neutrality to avoid a costly conflict with the British navy. The arrival of British troops in some of the most important ports of the colony further complicated American trade, as merchants now had to navigate both French and British blockades. The United States continued to trade with all parties, treating the conflict as an opportunity to assert its neutral rights and expand its market share. This period marked the beginning of a complex diplomatic struggle where Saint-Domingue became a central theater of global maritime competition.