The founders were intent on making sure that no hostile country gained complete control of the continent of Europe out of fear that this would threaten the very existence of the United States. Kaufman notes that during the formative period of the Republic, the founders paid close attention to the balance of power in Europe and "deftly exploited the rivalries it spawned: first to win independence for America; then to consolidate the American Republic; then vastly to expand the realm of it (Kaufman 9). During the Revolutionary War, the alliance with France made in 1778 was vital to independence and manifested out of the feud between Britain and France. At the onset of the French Revolution, Washington negotiated two major treaties (Jay's Treaty of 1794 and Pinckney's Treaty of 1795) to both protect the land the republic already possessed and expand across land the republic wished to acquire. In essence, the United States was content to sit back and watch events unfold in Europe and step in diplomatically when they could gain advantages without using military force and losing lives of its soldiers. During this period, they understood and accepted that they were not yet able to be a major player on the global stage and in turn, this recognition allowed them to benefit immensely when the opportunity arose. .
Opportunity arose again when, in 1803, the United States purchased the territory of Louisiana from Napoleon. Napoleon was so desperate to sell the land because of France's war with Britain that the United States was able to acquire the territory for a small sum and greatly expanded its territory overnight. The Monroe Doctrine provides another example of United States isolationism in action during this time. The Monroe Doctrine stated that the United States would not interfere in European affairs across the sea and stated that any efforts by European powers to colonize land in the Americas would be viewed as an act of aggression towards the United States.
