Final answer:
The Neutrality Proclamation stated that U.S. citizens engaging in hostilities against Great Britain or France would not have the protection of the United States, reflecting a desire for impartiality and peace between the conflicting European powers. The proclamation faced both support and opposition domestically.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Neutrality Proclamation, any citizens of the United States who took up hostilities against Great Britain or France would not receive the protection of the United States. This proclamation, issued by President George Washington on April 22, 1793, clearly stated that the U.S. would remain impartial in the conflict between European powers and would punish American citizens for aiding hostilities or carrying contraband.
The Federalists generally supported the proclamation for maintaining peace and avoiding entanglement in European wars, while prominent Republicans like Jefferson and Madison criticized it. This policy aimed to convey the American desire for maintaining peaceful and impartial relations without officially using the word 'neutrality'. However, the political debate over the decision highlighted the wider implications for U.S. foreign policy and its relationship with France and Great Britain at the time.