1829 Andrew Jackson - Treaty with the Ottoman Porte (Opening the Black Sea to American merchants)

When Russia, America's "steadfast friend" in 1829 invaded Turkey, it forced the Ottoman Empire to sign a treaty of peace and opened an opportunity for the United States to negotiate a treaty with Turkey "unlocking the navigation of the Black Sea".   The invasion is part of what is known as the Russo-Turkish war that began when Russia saw  an opportunity to expand its empire as uprisings like that in Greece were accelerating the decay of the Ottoman Empire.   Emperor Nicholas led 100,000 Russian troops in an attempted siege of  three key Ottoman citadels in Bulgaria.   Despite heavy losses, the Russian troops were able to position themselves to become a threat to the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul forcing the Turkey to call for a truce. In part due to the support from Russia and the Russia's actions to threaten the Ottoman Empire, Greece, Moldavia, Wallachia and Serbia were all able to gain their independence. 

Andrew Jackson in his first State of the Union address described Russia's actions as awakening "a lively sympathy for those who were exposed to the desolation of war", and anticipated that the result would prove to bring blessings to the cause of civilization.  Furthermore, now that a treaty of peace was ratified, it only made sense that American merchants would benefit greatly from its commerce if the navigation of the Black Sea could be unlocked and a free passage to Russia would be opened.  Besides Russia, access to the Black Sea allowed merchants to trade with Bulgaria and many Ottoman ports but access was controlled by Turkey via the Dardanelles which was a narrow, natural strait connection the Sea of Marmar with the Mediterranean.  Istanbul, the capital of Turkey sat along the canal of the Imperial Residence, a very small passage that allowed access to the Black Sea.   Most European powers already had access to the Black Sea, but this advantage was not yet granted to the United States.   President Jackson shared with Congress in his address that attempts to negotiate a treaty with Turkey have been restarted after an unsuccessful attempt that was made previously in the Summer of 1829.  Jackson urged Congress to give the negotiations with Turkey to open up the Black Seas their most zealous attention.

"With other European powers our intercourse is on the most friendly footing. In Russia, placed by her territorial limits, extensive population, and great power high in the rank of nations, the United States have always found a steadfast friend. Although her recent invasion of Turkey awakened a lively sympathy for those who were exposed to the desolation of war, we can not but anticipate that the result will prove favorable to the cause of civilization and to the progress of human happiness. The treaty of peace between these powers having been ratified, we can not be insensible to the great benefit to be derived by the commerce of the United States from unlocking the navigation of the Black Sea, a free passage into which is secured to all merchant vessels bound to ports of Russia under a flag at peace with the Porte. This advantage, enjoyed upon conditions by most of the powers of Europe, has hitherto been withheld from us. During the past summer an antecedent but unsuccessful attempt to obtain it was renewed under circumstances which promised the most favorable results. Although these results have fortunately been thus in part attained, further facilities to the enjoyment of this new field for the enterprise of our citizens are, in my opinion, sufficiently desirable to insure to them our most zealous attention."

Just months later, Captain James Biddle, David Offley and Charles Rhind were sent to Turkey and on February 11, 1830 they presented their credentials to the Turkish Minster of Foreign affairs to begin negotiations on a treaty of navigation an commerce.   On May 7th, their efforts paid off and a treaty was signed with the Ottoman Porte establishing mutual recognition between the United States and the Ottoman Empire opening the Black Sea to American vessels.  The treaty was ratified by President Jackson on February 2nd, 1831.   Article 1 of the treaty provided "Most favored nation" status for both American merchants and the merchants of Sublime Porte.  Each would pay the same duties and imposts that were "paid by merchants of the most favored friendly Powers".  Article 2 allowed the United States to "appoint their citizens to be Consuls or Vice Consuls, at the commercial places in the dominions of the Sublime Porte, where it shall be found needful to superintend the affairs of commerce".  Article 3 allowed American merchants to employ brokers of any nation or religion for purposes of commerce in the dominions of Sublime Port.  Finally, article 7 gave merchant vessels the liberty to pass the canal of the Imperial Residence and to "go and come in the Black Sea".  It was a victory for President Andrew Jackson and the American merchants.  The treaty was very well received in the United States and marked the beginning of official relations between the United States and the Ottoman Empire.

In Jackson's second State of the Union Address, he shared with Congress the results of the negotiations.  Free passage to and from the Black Sea was now secured, and trade with Turkey was " placed on the footing of the most favored nation".  Jackson said he would do everything in his power to continue fostering friendly relations with Russia and to continue working to improve commercial relations with Russia and the Sublime Porte.

"The injury to the commerce of the United States resulting from the exclusion of our vessels from the Black Sea and the previous footing of mere sufferance upon which even the limited trade enjoyed by us with Turkey has hitherto been placed have for a long time been a source of much solicitude to this Government, and several endeavors have been made to obtain a better state of things. Sensible of the importance of the object, I felt it my duty to leave no proper means unemployed to acquire for our flag the same privileges that are enjoyed by the principal powers of Europe. Commissioners were consequently appointed to open a negotiation with the Sublime Porte. Not long after the member of the commission who went directly from the United States had sailed, the account of the treaty of Adrianople, by which one of the objects in view was supposed to be secured, reached this country. The Black Sea was understood to be opened to us. Under the supposition that this was the case, the additional facilities to be derived from the establishment of commercial regulations with the Porte were deemed of sufficient importance to require a prosecution of the negotiation as originally contemplated. It was therefore persevered in, and resulted in a treaty, which will be forthwith laid before the Senate. 

By its provisions a free passage is secured, without limitations of time, to the vessels of the United States to and from the Black Sea, including the navigation thereof, and our trade with Turkey is placed on the footing of the most favored nation. The latter is an arrangement wholly independent of the treaty of Adrianople, and the former derives much value, not only from the increased security which under any circumstances it would give to the right in question, but from the fact, ascertained in the course of the negotiation, that by the construction put upon that treaty by Turkey the article relating to the passage of the Bosphorus is confined to nations having treaties with the Porte. The most friendly feelings appear to be entertained by the Sultan, and an enlightened disposition is evinced by him to foster the intercourse between the two countries by the most liberal arrangements. This disposition it will be our duty and interest to cherish.

Our relations with Russia are of the most stable character. Respect for that Empire and confidence in its friendship toward the United States have been so long entertained on our part and so carefully cherished by the present Emperor and his illustrious predecessor as to have become incorporated with the public sentiment of the United States. No means will be left unemployed on my part to promote these salutary feelings and those improvements of which the commercial intercourse between the two countries is susceptible, and which have derived increased importance from our treaty with the Sublime Porte."

In 1832, Jackson shared with Congress the positive effects of the treaties on our commerce.

"Our treaty with the Sublime Porte is producing its expected effects on our commerce. New markets are opening for our commodities and a more extensive range for the employment of our ships. A slight augmentation of the duties on our commerce, inconsistent with the spirit of the treaty, had been imposed, but on the representation of our chargé d'affaires it has been promptly withdrawn, and we now enjoy the trade and navigation of the Black Sea and of all the ports belonging to the Turkish Empire and Asia on the most perfect equality with all foreign nations." 

And again, in 1833 Jackson shared the positive effects of the treaties on our commerce and reciprocal trade.

"With all the other European powers with whom the United States have formed diplomatic relations and with the Sublime Porte the best understanding prevails. From all I continue to receive assurances of good will toward the United States -- assurances which it gives me no less pleasure to reciprocate than to receive. With all, the engagements which have been entered into are fulfilled with good faith on both sides. Measures have also been taken to enlarge our friendly relations and extend our commercial intercourse with other States. The system we have pursued of aiming at no exclusive advantages, of dealing with all on terms of fair and equal reciprocity, and of adhering scrupulously to all our engagements is well calculated to give success to efforts intended to be mutually beneficial."

note:  The treaty turned out to be significant in many ways that are beyond the scope of this post.  Article IV restrained the courts of the Ottoman from taking on trials without the presence of an interpreter, and in practice restrained the control of the Ottoman over foreigners. This had impact in many ways, including the ability for missionary work to the Armenians.  Another area of the agreement allowed for the American to help the Ottomans to rebuild their navy by including a secret article addressing "ship building" that created a rift among the Ottoman commissioners.  In the end, the secret article was removed in the version ratified by the U.S. senate.

References

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Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2019). Fifth Annual Message | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/fifth-annual-message-2 [Accessed 12 Sept. 2019].

Investmentmoot.org. (2018). Treaty with the Ottoman Porte. [online] Available at: http://investmentmoot.org/files/5714/4544/1288/Ottoman_Treaty.pdf [Accessed 22 Aug. 2018].

Şuhnaz, Y. (2015). Turkish-American relations, 1800-1952. New York: Routledge, pp.16-17.

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Wagner, D. (2018). 1828 John Quincy Adams - Russian-Turkish War 1828-1829. [online] Stateoftheunionhistory.com. Available at: http://www.stateoftheunionhistory.com/2018/06/1828-john-quincy-adams-russian-turkish.html [Accessed 22 Aug. 2018].