"Whereas it appears that a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands of the one part and France on the other, and the duty and interest of the United States require that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent powers:
Tensions between European powers and France forced America to officially take this stance of neutrality during the presidency of
John Adams
James Madison
Thomas Jefferson
George Washington