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The
Rush-Bagot Treaty was ratified by the United States
Senate on April 16, 1818.
The Rush-Bagot Agreement:
Richard Rush and Charles Bagot
The
Agreement
was signed by Richard Rush, Acting Secretary of State of
the United States, and Sir Charles Bagot, the British
minister in Washington DC.
Facts about
Rush-Bagot Treaty
The following fact sheet contains interesting facts and information
on Rush-Bagot Treaty.
The Rush-Bagot Agreement for kids: Background History
The War of 1812 between the US and Great Britain had abruptly
concluded with the Treaty of Ghent.
The War of 1812 had been fought for the conquest of Canada. Both the
British and the Americans were constructing massive battleships for
Lake Ontario at the time the treaty was signed. The War of 1812 had
ended in a stalemate. Both sides wanted peace, the war had been
extremely expensive and both sides were looking for ways to save
money.
What was the Rush-Bagot Agreement? The Exchange of notes
The Rush-Bagot Treaty was extremely unusual as it was based on an exchange of notes (letters) between Richard Rush and Sir
Charles Bagot.
The terms were suggested to Richard Rush by President Monroe
in a letter dated August 2, 1816. The method for obtaining the
understanding between the US and British governments was the
diplomatic device known as 'an interchange of notes'. A series of
notes passed between Rush and Bagot and they reached agreement. In 1818 the U.S. Senate gave its approval of the notes, giving them
the authority of a treaty. The simple exchange of notes between the
two diplomats therefore became the Treaty of Rush-Bagot.
What were the aims of the Rush-Bagot Agreement?
The Rush-Bagot was aimed at:
What were the Terms of the Rush-Bagot Agreement?
The terms of the Rush-Bagot were that each side
should confine their naval vessels as follows:
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On Lake Ontario one
Vessel not exceeding 100 Tons and armed with one 18 pound
cannon.
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On the Upper Lakes two
Vessels not exceeding the above
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On Lake Champlain one
Vessel not exceeding the above
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All other armed
Vessels on these Lakes were to be dismantled
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No other Vessels of
War shall be armed or built there
The Significance of the Rush-Bagot Agreement:
What was the significance of the Rush-Bagot Treaty? The Rush-Bagot
agreement was significant because:
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It signified a improvement
of diplomatic relations between the US and Great Britain
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The agreement terminated
the expensive arms race on the Great Lakes that had begun with
the War of 1812
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The Rush-Bagot Treaty was
therefore the first treaty for arms reduction
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