Lessons from the Jay Treaty Era and a Path to Rebuilding Liberty
One of the questions I hear often is: “Do you think our country can survive the kind of political division we see on a daily basis?”
In a world where information is now traveling at the speed of light and AI is getting so robust that it’s hard to know if anything you’re seeing is real, it’s a fair concern. Every news cycle feels like a WWE cage match, Thanksgiving dinners turn into debates that make you wish for a referee, and every election is pitched as the last one before the apocalypse.
But here’s the thing: we’ve been here before. And not only did America survive, we learned a few lessons along the way (some the hard way).
A Flashback to the 1790s: The Jay Treaty
In 1794, the United States was basically a teenager — independent, a little scrappy, and trying to prove to the world it could make it on its own. To ease tensions with Great Britain, President George Washington sent Chief Justice John Jay to negotiate a treaty.
The Jay Treaty — officially the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation — included:
British Troop Withdrawal: Britain promised (finally) to leave forts it still held in the Northwest Territory. Imagine promising to leave someone’s house after the party ends… and then hanging out for another decade.
Trade Relations: Opened limited trade with the British Caribbean colonies, though with strings attached.
Debt & Compensation: The U.S. agreed to pay back old debts, and Britain promised to compensate Americans for seized ships. (Think of it as the world’s first messy Venmo settlement.)
Neutral Rights: Commissions were set up to settle disputes, but Britain still snagged U.S. ships trading with France.
Boundary Issues: The U.S.-Canada border went to mediation instead of muskets.
On paper, the treaty bought peace. In reality, it set off political fireworks that made today’s Twitter battles look tame.
The Political Climate Then
Federalists (Washington, Hamilton, Jay) thought it was brilliant: keep the peace, grow the economy, avoid another war.
Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson, Madison) thought it was treason: a sellout to Britain and a slap in the face to France, who had actually helped us during the Revolution.
The public? Let’s just say John Jay was burned in effigy. (You know you’ve lost the PR battle when the crowd is literally lighting fake yous on fire.)
Still, the treaty did what it was meant to do — stabilize trade, keep us out of another war, and give America breathing room to grow.
Did Division Destroy Us Then?
Nope. We made it through. But the Jay Treaty cemented the rise of America’s first political parties and proved that foreign policy could drive people to yell, march, and publish angry pamphlets.
Comparison: Then vs. Now
Polarization & Partisan Divide
1790s: Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans. Pamphlets flew. Jay got torched in effigy.
Today: Democrats vs. Republicans. Tweets fly. Memes torch reputations in seconds.
Parallel: Whether it’s a pamphlet or a post, Americans love a good outrage.
Foreign Influence on Domestic Politics
1790s: Britain or France? That was the question.
Today: China, Russia, Israel, Ukraine. Different countries, same dilemma.
Parallel: We’ve always argued about whether to side with economic pragmatism or lofty principles.
Leadership Under Fire
1790s: Washington — the man who couldn’t tell a lie — got told he was a liar.
Today: Presidents face instant half-country adoration and half-country fury.
Parallel: Partisanship has always been the national pastime. Baseball came later.
⚖️ Contrast: Key Differences
In the 1790s, America was fragile, like a toddler just learning to walk. Today we’re a global giant — but somehow still trip over our own shoelaces.
Then, partisan newspapers spread slowly town-to-town. Today, misinformation goes viral before you’ve finished your coffee.
Then, political parties were just forming. Today, they’re so entrenched you can’t imagine Congress switching sides for a potluck dinner, let alone a major vote.
Lessons for Rebuilding Liberty
So, what can we learn from all this?
1. Put Principles Above Parties
Back then, people let loyalty to party blind them to principles. Sound familiar?
👉 Lesson: Judge issues by the Constitution, not the color of the campaign sign.
2. Recognize Foreign Influence Without Losing Domestic Unity
Britain vs. France nearly split us in half. Today, foreign entanglements still spark division.
👉 Lesson: Strong nations engage abroad without losing unity at home.
3. Respect Leadership, Even When You Disagree
Washington faced insults that would make Twitter blush. And yet, the republic endured.
👉 Lesson: We can debate like family at the dinner table — passionately, but without flipping the table over.
4. Choose Liberty Over Comfort
The Jay Treaty bought peace, but at the cost of principle for some. Today, we’re tempted to trade liberty for comfort (government handouts, quick fixes, endless spending).
👉 Lesson: A free people must be willing to endure some discomfort to preserve liberty.
The Patriot Academy Connection
Patriot Academy reminds us: liberty isn’t rebuilt in D.C. It’s rebuilt locally, through community leaders, civic virtue, and the courage to stand on principle.
The Jay Treaty era shows us that:
Division destroys liberty faster than foreign enemies.
Principles outlast parties.
Civic virtue holds the republic together.
Liberty requires courage to say no to easy compromises.
✅ Bottom Line
Yes, America can survive division. We already did. But survival alone isn’t the goal.
If we want to rebuild liberty, we must:
Unite around principles, not parties.
Strengthen local leadership.
Debate fiercely but with honor.
Value liberty above comfort.
That’s how America not only survives — but thrives. Or, as George Washington might put it if he had Twitter: “Stop dunking on each other. Start defending liberty.” 🇺🇸
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