An agreement between the United States and Spain, signed in 1795, resolved territorial disputes and granted American ships the right to navigate the Mississippi River and deposit goods at New Orleans. This accord, also known as the Treaty of San Lorenzo, addressed long-standing contentions stemming from Spanish control of the Mississippi and its access to the Gulf of Mexico, crucial for western American commerce.
The resolution of these issues had significant implications for the westward expansion and economic development of the United States. By securing free navigation of the Mississippi, American farmers and merchants could efficiently transport their goods to market, boosting trade and facilitating settlement in the trans-Appalachian region. It also lessened the potential for conflict with Spain and promoted a more stable geopolitical environment for the young nation.
