Theperiodbetween1775and1815couldbecalledthe“criticalperiod“ofAmericanforeignrelations.AtnotimeinAmericanhistorywastheexistenceoftherepublicingreaterphysicalperil.QuestionsofforeignpolicydominatedAmericanpubliclifeinawayunequalleduntilWorldWarII.FromtheAmericanRevolutionthroughtheWarof1812,theUnitedStateswasasmallpowerconfrontedbygreatpowershostiletoeachotherandtotheUnitedStates.Furthermore,theerawasdominatedbytwogreatrevolutionsthatreshapedtheAtlanticworld.TheproblemforAmericandiplomatsandforeignpolicymakerswastopreservetheUnitedStates,bothasanindependentnationandasarepublic,inadecidedlyunequalcontestwiththegreatpowers.AccordingtoRobertW.Smith,thequestionofAmericanpowerlayattheheartofthedebateoverindependence.TheradicalsbelievedthattheAmericanspiritandmarketwereenough,andfavoredrapidindependenceandanaggressivepromotionofneutralrights.ThemoderatesdoubtedAmericanpower,andwereinclinedtomoveslowlyandonlywithassuredFrenchassistance.BytheendoftheAmericanRevolution,themoderateshadwonthedebate.Buttheirvictorymaskedthedefectsoftheconfederation,untilthediplomatichumiliationsofthe1780sforcedtheUnitedStatestocreateagovernmentthatcouldproperlyharnessAmericaneconomicandmilitarypower.ThedebateoverthepoweroftheUnitedStatestoreshapeahostileworldremainsascentraltodayasin1776.
