Quasi-War
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The Quasi-War, 1798 to 1800, was an undeclared war between the United States and the French First Republic. It was fought almost entirely at sea, primarily in the Caribbean and off the East Coast of t
USS Constellation in combat with French Insurgente
The French privateer Clarisse attacking the American merchantmen Louisa and Mercury on 3 January 1800
A 20th-century illustration depicting United States Marines escorting French prisoners
Convention of 1800
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The Convention of 1800, also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaine, was signed on September 30, 1800, by the United States and France. The difference in name was due to congressional sensitivity at ent
Quasi-War
…ships from both nations were allowed to join each other's convoys. The replacement of the First Republic by the Consulate in November 1799 led to the Convention of 1800, which ended the war. The right of Congress to authorize military action without a formal declaration of war was later confirmed by the Supreme Court…
The signing of the Convention at Mortefontaine, September 30, 1800
Portrait of Talleyrand by François Gérard. The French Foreign Minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord
Caribbean sugar plantation, 1823; French economic objectives in North America were a key motive in negotiating the Convention