East View Archive EditionsTM (formerly known as Cambridge Archive Editions) is the first-ever digital presentation of the exceptionally well-known and respected series of British archival reprints formerly published by Cambridge University Press.
“America and Great Britain: Diplomatic Relations 1775-1815” is the first Cambridge Archive Editions collection covering North America. It is also the first full color collection. By presenting these documents electronically and in color, much older documents can be reproduced. Color images show the contrast between the copperplate handwriting, often in a brown-based ink, on sepia colored stock.
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America and Great Britain: Diplomatic Relations 1775–1815: British Government Documents contains the following volumes:
Volume 1: 1775-1781
Selected documents illustrating the development of tensions in relations between Great Britain and the American Colonies and the growing disaffection on the part of American colonists, the American Revolutionary War, the American rejection of initial British proposals, and the prospect of war with France and Spain.
Volume 2: 1781-1782
This volume follows the negotiations at Paris in 1782, culminating in the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which brought an end to the American Revolutionary War. Also shows the diplomatic process behind the key questions of independence and commercial relations.
Volume 3: 1783-1791
Official arrangements, reports and correspondence on continuing negotiations in Paris, before the Treaty of Paris is ratified in September 1783. Looks at post-treaty concerns such as trade and boundary disputes. Period also sees the signing of the Constitution in 1788 and the election of Washington as President in 1791.
Volume 4: 1792-1794
Volume 4 looks at Franco-American trade and its effect on relations with Britain, who were enforcing a naval blockade. Questions are raised about British involvement in Indian-American War as well as diplomatic debate concerning maritime law.
Volume 5: 1794-1799
Treaty of Amity and Commerce of 1794 resolves heightening diplomatic tensions, though the problem of British impressment of US sailors continues. Also looks at the worsening US-French relations.
Volume 6: 1800-1805
Start of the Napoleonic war has diplomatic implications on Anglo-US and Franco-US relations. The period covered also witnesses the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which saw the near doubling of American owned territory.
Volume 7: 1806-1808
Period dominated by diplomatic tension over naval issues, most notably the Chesapeake affair, and worsening relations as a US embargo on British trade is enacted. The US government considers retaliation against British ‘aggression’ on US coasts and waters.
Volume 8: 1809-1812
Volume 8 focuses on diplomatic negotiations concerning trade, neutrality, blockades, and Anglo-French competition. British diplomat oversteps his mandate resulting in protracted talks about diplomatic practice.
Volume 9: 1812-1815
The outbreak of the War of 1812 was the culmination of several longstanding and unresolved issues between the two countries. The volume focuses on the diplomatic process behind the bringing of peace in the form of the Treaty of Ghent which was ratified in 1815.