Final answer:
American foreign policy post-Revolution was divided, with the French Revolution, relations with Spain, and Native American interactions being key points of contention. The need for a central government versus reliance on patriotism also illustrated these ideological divides.
Step-by-step explanation:
American opinions about foreign policy were indeed divided in the years following the American Revolution with several examples to illustrate this. The text provides evidence that during the 1790s,
Americans were notably divided over the French Revolution, which was seen as a parallel to their own struggle for independence, yet opinions differed on how much support, if any, should be offered to the French.
Additionally, debates over relations with Spain and the handling of interactions with Native American tribes, who themselves had to navigate foreign policy decisions during the American Revolution, showed the division in American attitudes.
The text also references the differing views on the need for a central government, with many leaders arguing that patriotism was not enough to maintain unity and peace, thus leading to the creation of governmental structures. This fragmentation in views reflected the evolving nature of American politics and the challenges the young nation faced in forming a cohesive foreign policy approach.