Final answer:
President George Washington issued the Neutrality Proclamation on April 22, 1793, aimed at keeping the U.S. out of the European conflict between France and Britain, with subsequent debates on presidential authority in foreign policy.
Step-by-step explanation:
President George Washington administered the Neutrality Proclamation on April 22, 1793. The purpose of this proclamation was to declare the United States neutral in the conflict between France and Britain, illustrating a clear determination to avoid involvement in European affairs. This act did not employ the term 'neutrality' explicitly but intended to communicate a neutral stance through actions such as penalizing American citizens for aiding the belligerent parties or trafficking contraband.
Despite Federalist support for Washington's stance, the proclamation was met with criticism from Republicans, most notably from Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Jefferson distanced himself from the policy, while Madison labeled it an 'unfortunate error' and later sparked a constitutional debate over the executive's authority to set foreign policy. This debate featured Alexander Hamilton defending the president's authority versus Madison's insistence that such powers resided with Congress.
The proclamation's context was set amid rising tensions with Britain in 1793 as it blockaded Europe during the French Revolution. Washington's administration prepared for war while seeking peaceful resolutions, including sending John Jay to negotiate in London, which ultimately led to the crucial Jay Treaty.