The purpose of this paper is to explain whether John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe followed Washington’s position on foreign policy such as the neutrality proclamation and isolationism after he served his presidency. This paper will also talk about how their policies were affected by Washington’s neutrality proclamation and their foreign policy achievement or failures. Washington’s neutrality proclamation basically stated the nations decision to remain neutral during the conflict of war between France and Britain. This act set as a precedent for all the future presidents to stay neutral and not interfere with other countries foreign affairs. Adams tried to remain neutral regarding foreign affairs during his presidency, but found it rather difficult with all the problems he faced with other countries during his term. French leaders had hoped that United States would declare war with England when Britain refused to leave the Ohio Valley (History Alive 164). Furthermore, when Adams decided to send John Jay to London to figure out a peaceful resolution with British it upset the French leaders tremendously (164). The French officials saw this act as betrayal and decided to attack American merchant ships heading for Britain (164). President Adams had to do something and decided to send three representatives to France to get them to end the attacks. Adams was then met with even more trouble when his three representatives were met by three secret agents later identified as X, Y, and Z. They told the American representatives that they could not meet the French leaders to talk about peaceful resolution unless they paid a huge tribute and a loan to their leader, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Périgord. The French tried to bribe the U.S. for its safety. Apstudynotes described Talleyrand’s bribe as, “too high for merely a pledge to negotiate,” (“apstudynotes” 2). Citizens in America were so furious when they heard about France’s attempt at bribe (even though bribe was common in the 18th centuries) that they immediately wanted to go into war with them (“History Alive” 164). Adams still did not think this was best for the nation though. Eventually, Congress (by the urging of Adams) voted to recruit an army of 10,000 men and get new ships (164). America went into undeclared war with France and during the time period, captured more than 80 armed French vessels (164). Even after all this controversy Adams still wanted peace. He sought out to find peace with Britain even though it was not encouraged by his party, the Federalists. The new leader of the French government, Napoleon Bonaparte was eager to make peace with U.S. and Great Britain (165). The U.S., Great Britain, and France all agreed to stop the fighting and end the alliances for it had done nothing but create trouble. “Adams was determined to avoid a war with France and had to battle with his own party to keep the peace which cost him the reelection to a second term as president” (John-Adams-Heritage 1). He put the nation’s peace ahead of his own reelection, which was really his shining moment as president and people realized that later on. Following Washington’s precedent regarding foreign affairs was hard for Adams and cost him another term as president but in the end helped the nation out tremendously. Jefferson, also similar to Washington and Adams tried to follow a policy of neutrality. Remaining neutral was already hard enough for Jefferson when U.S. ships were being seized. It became even harder when Britain started impressing American sailors so they could serve in the British navy (History Alive 166). Unfortunately, this was not the last of the U.S. troubles. American ships faced another problem from the Barbary States. Pirates that hid in the Mediterranean Sea seized the ships entering the sea and held the crews hostage. Presidents Washington and Adams paid a tribute to Barbary State rulers in exchange for safety of American ships (pg 166). Howe