Editing Andrew Jackson (section)

===Foreign affairs===
{{CSS image crop|Image = JACKSON, Andrew-President (BEP engraved portrait).jpg|bSize = 325|cWidth = 230|cHeight = 250|oTop = 75|oLeft = 45|Location = left|Description = Engraved portrait of Jackson as president by the [[Bureau of Engraving and Printing]]. This portrait has appeared on the [[United States twenty-dollar bill|$20 bill]] since 1929.<ref name=1929$20Bill>{{cite web|title=$20 Note: Issued 1914–1990|url=https://www.uscurrency.gov/sites/default/files/downloadable-materials/files/en/20-1914-1990-features-en.pdf|website=U.S. Currency Education Program|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204051120/https://www.uscurrency.gov/sites/default/files/downloadable-materials/files/en/20-1914-1990-features-en.pdf|archive-date=February 4, 2020}}</ref>|alt=Man with wavy white hair and black clothing looks to his left}}

The Jackson administration successfully negotiated a trade agreement with [[Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–1932)|Siam]], the first Asian country to form a trade agreement with the U.S. The administration also made trade agreements with Great Britain, Spain, [[Russian Empire|Russia]], and the [[Ottoman Empire]].{{sfn|Latner|2002|p=120}}

In his First Annual Message to Congress, Jackson addressed the issues of [[Looting|spoliation]] claims, demands of compensation for the capture of American ships and sailors by foreign nations during the [[Napoleonic Wars]].{{sfn|Thomas|1976|p=51}} Using a combination of bluster and tact, he successfully settled these claims with Denmark, [[Kingdom of Portugal|Portugal]], and Spain,{{sfn|Latner|2002|p=120}} but he had difficulty collecting spoliation claims from France, which was unwilling to pay an indemnity agreed to in an earlier treaty. Jackson asked Congress in 1834 to authorize reprisals against French property if the country failed to make payment, as well as to arm for defense.{{sfn|Thomas|1976|p=51}} In response, France put its Caribbean fleet on a wartime footing.{{sfn|Howe|2007|p=263}} Both sides wanted to avoid a conflict, but the French wanted an apology for Jackson's belligerence. In his 1835 Annual Message to the Congress, Jackson asserted that he refused to apologize, but stated that he did not intend to "menace or insult the Government of France".{{sfn|Thomas|1976|p=63}} The French were assuaged and agreed to pay $5,000,000 ({{Inflation|US|5000000|1835|fmt=eq|r=-2|cursign=$}}) to settle the claims.{{sfn|Remini|1984|p=288}}

Since the early 1820s, large numbers of Americans had been immigrating into Texas, a territory of the [[Mexican War of Independence|newly independent]] nation of [[First Mexican Republic|Mexico]].{{sfn|Howe|2007|pp=658–659}} As early as 1824, Jackson had supported acquiring the region for the United States.{{sfn|Stenberg|1934|p=229}} In 1829, he attempted to purchase it, but Mexico did not want to sell. By 1830, there were twice as many settlers from the United States as from Mexico, leading to tensions with the Mexican government that started the [[Texas Revolution]]. During the conflict, Jackson covertly allowed the settlers to obtain weapons and money from the United States.{{sfn|Howe|2007|pp=659–669}} They defeated the Mexican military in April 1836 and declared the region an independent country, the Republic of Texas. The new Republic asked Jackson to recognize and annex it. Although Jackson wanted to do so, he was hesitant because he was unsure it could maintain independence from Mexico.{{sfn|Latner|2002|p=120}} He also was concerned because Texas had legalized slavery, which was an issue that could divide the Democrats during the 1836 election. Jackson recognized the Republic of Texas on the last full day of his presidency, March 3, 1837.{{sfn|Howe|2007|pp=670–671}}