Final answer:
Britain and France were at war in the 1790s due to colonial disputes in North America, notably the Seven Years' War, and the ideological clash brought on by the French Revolution. The Treaty of Alliance compelled America to consider its role, while the Napoleonic Wars strained relations due to trade restrictions and British support of Native American resistance. These factors contributed to the larger context of Anglo-French hostilities, impacting U.S. foreign policy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reasons for British and French War in the 1790s
Britain and France were at war in the 1790s for several reasons, primarily the longstanding colonial rivalry in North America and differing ideologies following the French Revolution. The competition for lands in North America escalated when the French and British colonists contested the Ohio River Valley, prompting military engagements such as the skirmish led by George Washington at Fort Necessity. The Seven Years' War (French and Indian War) followed, with both the British and French allying with various Native American tribes.
With the French Revolution, France declared war on Britain, intending to spread revolutionary ideals and challenge monarchies. The Treaty of Alliance created a defensive pact between the French and the Americans, obliging assistance against Britain, the nature of which led to debate within the United States on whether to support the French. However, ideological differences and British naval impressment led to a broader conflict, ultimately culminating in the War of 1812.
The Napoleonic Wars also played a part in increasing tensions, as both Britain and France sought to interfere with neutral trade, creating friction with the United States which hoped to maintain neutrality while still engaging in transatlantic commerce. Britain's imposition of a naval blockade against continental Europe under French control, and the support it provided to Native Americans resisting U.S. expansion, exacerbated the situation, leading to the Embargo of 1807 and furthering hostilities.