Ended the Quasi-War with France and terminated the 1778 Franco-American treaties, paving the way for the 1803 Louisiana Purchase.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- September 30, 1800
- Also known as
- Treaty of Mortefontaine
- Conflict ended
- Quasi-War (1798–1800)
- Treaties terminated
- 1778 Franco-American Alliance and Commerce treaties
- Congressional approval
- December 1801
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Tensions between the United States and France had escalated into the undeclared Quasi-War (1798–1800), a naval conflict fought mainly in the Caribbean. Disputes over the 1778 treaties of Alliance and Commerce, along with French seizures of American merchant ships, created urgent pressure for a diplomatic resolution between the two nations.
On September 30, 1800, American and French negotiators signed the Convention of 1800 at Mortefontaine, France. The agreement formally terminated the 1778 Franco-American treaties, affirmed the principle of 'free trade, free goods,' and ended the Quasi-War. Congress withheld approval until December 1801, largely because the convention left unresolved the compensation claims of American shipowners.
By resolving the main points of contention, the convention restored diplomatic relations between the United States and France. It removed obstacles that had strained bilateral ties and directly facilitated Napoleon's decision to sell the Louisiana Territory to the United States in 1803, dramatically expanding American territory.
Political Outcome
Ended the Quasi-War, terminated the 1778 Franco-American treaties, and restored diplomatic relations between the U.S. and France.
U.S. and France in undeclared naval conflict; 1778 alliance treaties in disputed effect
Franco-American relations normalized; 1778 treaties annulled; path opened for Louisiana Purchase