What was the primary concern of many Americans regarding the French Revolution?

Many Americans were primarily concerned about the potential for domestic unrest and violence that stemmed from the French Revolution. The revolution, which saw the overthrow of the monarchy and the rise of radical factions, evoked fears among the American populace of similar upheaval occurring in the United States. The events in France, particularly the Reign of Terror characterized by extreme violence, led to anxieties about the influence of revolutionary ideas and the possibility of insurrection within American society. This concern was especially pronounced among those in the political establishment, who worried that radicalism could disrupt the fragile stability of the new nation.

While trade opportunities, the formation of a new government, and relations with Britain were certainly significant issues of the time, they were secondary to the immediate fears of chaos and disorder that the revolution suggested. The American experience of their own War for Independence was fresh, and the prospect of a similar tumultuous upheaval was alarming, particularly as political divisions emerged within the young nation about how to respond to the revolution.