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French Spoliation Claims

spo·li·a·tion
[spoh-lee-ey-shuhn]
–noun
1. the act or an instance of plundering or despoiling.
2. authorized plundering of neutrals at sea in time of war.

3. Law . the destruction or material alteration of a bill of exchange, will, or the
like.
4. the act of spoiling or damaging something.

French spoliation claims are claims presented by United States citizens
against France, Spain, and Holland for vessels and cargo taken by privateers
prior to September 30, 1800, and condemned at ports controlled by those
countries. A majority of the vessels were captured during the Quasi-War
between the United States and France (1797-1801), although the French

spoliation claims can include all property captured by the French at any time.

Franco-American relations became strained in the late eighteenth century for
several reasons. While France was at war with Great Britain, the United States

attempted to remain neutral but encountered many difficulties due to
harassment of its merchant vessels by both belligerents. When Jay’s Treaty was
signed on November 19, 1794, in an attempt to improve Anglo-American
relations, the French viewed it as a violation of earlier agreements signed with
their government, as well as a violation of American neutrality. As a result, the
French government passed several decrees permitting their privateers off the
coasts of North and South America, Europe, Africa, and the West Indies to

capture American merchant vessels.

The hostilities between France and the United States continued until the
signing of the Convention of Mortefontaine on September 30, 1800. The final

version of the convention made no provisions for the settlement of claims for
indemnity, however, leaving the issue for the future. Unfortunately for the
claimants, no one realized how far into the future some of the claims would be

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