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100. SMALL ARMS PROCUREMENT ACTIONS OF THE U.S. CONGRESS IN 1794
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SMALL ARMS PROCUREMENT ACTIONS OF THE U.S. CONGRESS IN 1794 Shortly after the Revolution of 1789, republican France began to engulf Europe in war. In 1792, France declared war on Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia. In 1793, France declared war on England, Holland, and Spain. At this time, the sentiments of the American people were running high against England. Since the end ofthe American Revolution in 1783, Britishships had harassed American commercial shipping, impounded commercial cargoes, and impressed seamen. These depredations became more severe, and by the end of 1793 many Americans were again ready to go to war against England. In late 1793, Secretary of War General Knox directed that an inventory be made of the small arms in the several repositories belonging to the federal government. On December 16 he reported to the U.S. Senate that there wasa total of 31,015 serviceable muskets in U.S. repositories and 15,670 damaged muskets, some of which could be repaired. Knox also reported that 12,219 muskets had been issued during the previous four years to the army,to individual states, and to others. He stressed the depletion of U.S. stores of arms and emphasized the need for additional arms and production facilities. On March 5, 1794, a "Report of Arsenals and Armories" was made to the U.S. House of Representatives. This report recommended the purchase of arms domestically and abroad as well as the establishment of a national armory. Congress, fearing that the French Revolutionary Wars could extend across the Atlantic, and irate at the British depredations, responded by enacting a law on April 12, 1794, that authorized the establishment of two national armories and also authorized "a sum, not exceeding one hundred and forty-three thousand six hundred and forty dollars, [to] be expended for the purpose of purchasing an additional quantity of arms and ammunition." Within a few months of the passage of this act, international events moved swiftly. In November of 1794, John Jay signed a treaty with England under which compensation waspaid by the British for their spoiling of American shipping. In spite of the fact that the United States renounced its neutrality rights and commercial equality under this treaty, the payments mollified tempers against England and averted war. Before the end of 1794, the funds authorized by Congress were being put to work. Contracts for 7,000 muskets were let with various domestic gunmakers. These are described in Section 139., "1794 U.S. Contract Muskets." Over $100,000 wasgiven the U.S. minister to Great Britain. The armsprocured abroad with these funds are described in the following section. Finally, the U.S. armories 100. AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. II at Springfield, Massachusetts, and Harpers Ferry, Virginia, were established (described in sections 130. and 134.)The French felt that the renunciation ofneutrality inherent in the Jaytreaty was a betrayal of the alliance that had existed since the American Revolution. At least partly because of this treaty, the French unleashed their warships and privateers on American commercial shipping, beginning what is often referred to as the Quasi War. On the pretext that they carried property belonging to the British, with whom France wasat war,hundreds ofAmerican ships were detained and many were carried into French ports and their cargoes sold. The French Revolutionary government expressed its displeasureover the Jay treaty, and expelled U.S. Minister Charles Pinckney. A commission sent in 1795 by the president and Congress to resolve the problems between the two nations was informed that they would not be received by French governmental officials until they offered suitable bribes. French Foreign Minister Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand was implicated in this affair, which was considered an insult to the United States. The Quasi War wasan undeclared naval warwith the French. From 1798 the newly launched American frigates and American warships cruised primarily in the Caribbean, where most of the American commercial shipping losses occurred . These ships defeated two French frigates, captured more than 100 privateers, and recovered more than seventy U.S. commercial ships. Declared war wasonly narrowlyaverted. The Quasi War extended until 1801, having been brought to a close by the Convention of 1800. 2 ...