"Navigating Neutrality" explores the unexpected role George Washington's 1793 Neutrality Proclamation played in energizing the U.S. government's constitutional responsibilities to support and promote America's commercial and sovereign interests. Neutrality encompassed a wide range of issues, including diplomacy, law, defense, commerce, and domestic politics, and Moats investigates how its enforcement galvanized all three branches of the government and served as a manifesto of the young nation's quest to be respected as an independent country. As Moats argues, the pursuit of neutrality-with its far-reaching ramifications for American commerce and international affairs-helped build a U.S. government capable of supporting the young nation's global aspirations.