(continuation) #1: George Washington Washington signed Jay's Treaty in 1795, a treaty with Great Britain that "relinquished the right to U.S. neutrality on the seas" in hopes of avoiding further conflict. This treaty allowed any American ship to be seized and searched by Great Britain. Therefore, many were. And Britain often claimed any useful product they found on board, including any British immigrants to the United States, which they would then drag off any force them to serve in the Royal Navy.