The Debilitated Situation of a Monarchal Government when puffed up by Pride and Self Importance...The Flourishing Condition of a well formed Industrious Republic...
date: label: Date made
content: n.d.
name: label: depicted
content: Washington, George
label: depicted
content: Jackson, Andrew
label: depicted
content: Louis Philippe King of France
label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: This undated print refers to negotiations between President Andrew Jackson and the King of France, Louise Phillipe, over money owed to the United States following the Napoleonic Wars (1803 to 1815). During the Napoleonic Wars, France, ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte, and their allies, engaged in a series of major conflicts as an extension of the French Revolution. The main target of these conflicts was Great Britain and their allies, but American merchant ships were often damaged by the French Navy. Negotiations to ratify these marine losses began during the war, but rather than helping, they are partially to blame for starting the War of 1812 as they aggravated the British. Dealings with France regarding this issue were at a stalemate, but early in his first term Jackson proposed the Franco-American Treaty of 1831, calling for France to pay twenty five million francs to the United States to cover the spoliation claims from American merchants. This Treaty is depicted in the print as the piece of paper in Jackson’s hand reading, “Treaty of July 4, 1831.” Behind Jackson on the right of the print, are men in uniform as well as patriotic symbols including a liberty cap, the seal of the United States, and a book open to a page detailing Jackson’s military successes including the Battle of New Orleans from the War of 1812. On the left, King Louis Phillipe of France, is standing with a group of men and symbols of his monarchial government including an overturned coffer or trunk containing papers recording debts instead of valuables. In the background, French and American Naval vessels, including the USS Constitution, are facing each other. Following the signing of the Franco-American Treaty of 1831, France paid European claims but ignored those of the United States. This angered Jackson, and he threatened military intervention if France did not pay. The threats frustrated France, but they agreed to pay only if Jackson apologized. When he refused, payment was again taken off the table. This print depicts the tension between the countries as illustrated on both Jackson and King Phillipe’s faces, so it was likely made at the height of the negotiations before the 1836 payment had been settled. By having Jackson and King Louis on different land masses the tension between democracy and the monarchy are also highlighted, with eight lines from Lord Byron’s poem, “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage” accompanied by an image of “Liberty” surrounded by stars solidifying that democracy was superior to monarchy.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The artist of this print is unknown.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: World
topic: label: Subject
content: War of 1812
label: Subject
content: Political Caricatures
label: Subject
content: Diplomacy
label: Subject
content: Patriotism and Patriotic Symbols
label: Subject
content: Economy
label: Subject
content: Uniforms, Military
label: depicted
content: Liberty
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
label: See more items in
content: Clothing & Accessories
label: See more items in
content: Peters Political Prints
label: See more items in
content: Art
label: See more items in
content: Domestic Furnishings
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: DL.60.3338
label: catalog number
content: 60.3338
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Lithograph
label: Object Type
content: Lithograph
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: image: 11 3/4 in x 16 5/8 in; 29.845 cm x 42.2275 cm