Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence. Madison was the author of the Constitution.
You also have to remember that we were just getting started. In Washington's opinion we were not ready to play with the big boys and likely would get creamed if we did. We were building something new and strange. Something that even we were not sure would work.
The New World was a surrogate battle ground for the Great Powers of the time. If you supported one side you had the other two gang up on you. The Monroe doctrine changed that for the Americas. Most of the European powers had been thrown out and we were strong enough to tell them to stay out and make it stick.
Yes. Washington was as activist as the circumstances of the times allowed him to be in foreign affairs. As were all the administrations that followed his. We've always been a "pushy" country.
Though Washington's Secretary of State tried to organize a "UN type" concerted action against the Barbary Pirates, that failed and Washington had to just pay huge bribes to them for protective treaties since he had no Navy.
But he was able to be aggressive against Spain, making treaties with indians in Spanish territories that weakened Spanish control and bound them closer to us.
Interference in Spain's internal affairs (in it's colonies) was the major goal of early US diplomacy- other than efforts that were required for establishing the new nation in the world- and continued to be until we'd taken over or dominated all their old possesions.