Causes Of The XYZ Affair

The XYZ Affair occurred throughout 1797 and 1798 during the earlier times of John Adams as president. Essentially the situation was that the French saw that the United State’s refusal to assist in taking the Spanish Louisiana as disrespectful, and became even more upset after the United States signed the Jay’s Treaty with Britain. France saw this as an interference of the French trade and began to seize all the American ships they came across. French government outright declined the American minister, Charles C. Pinckney, forcing him to flee to the Netherlands. Obviously angry, John Adams decided it was best to just try to talk to France, as so not ruin the relationship they maintained. John Adams ended up sending Elbridge Gerry, Charles

Instead, they were referred to as X, Y, and Z. It is later learned that the French men were named Jean Hottinguer, Pierre Bellamy, and Lucien Hauteval, respectively. Talleyrand originally wanted to stay on good terms with the United States, but also manipulate the representatives into giving him the wealth he always wanted. Evidently he had plans on invading the United States nonetheless, but more so threatened the three American men that if they didn’t cooperate, the French were sure to wreak havoc on their country. The French demanded that the United States were to pay $250,00, as well as another $12 million to settle a peace treaty. Understandably the men were baffled and offended. This caused anger and revolt in both the United States and France, which eventually morphed into the undeclared and extremely ambiguous war known as the Quasi-War. The XYZ Affair was a diplomatic event that resulted in an unofficial war between America and

Federalist, such as John Adams, were seen as anti-liberty aggressive bureaucrats and the Republicans planned to secede in secret if they took they lead. This plan was never actually taken into affect; or very seriously for that matter. They made Adams out to be some sort of godless heathen with questionable morals and views so people would avoid voting for him. Democratic-Republicans were heated because Adams refused to engage in a war, which they believed was in order because of the French treated them. They were outright furious and many groups protested their president’s decision. The opposing party gradually got more and more angry as well as Adams kept putting of the country’s problems in order to deal with those in another country.The Sedition Act and the Alien Act seemed to be the last straw, and John Adams was out voted by far, resulting in Thomas Jefferson, the previous vice president and leader of the Democratic-Republican party, into taking his place. Although Adams refused war, he did take up the responsibility to build up America's naval forces, which did prevent many American casualties. ADD