XYZ Affair

XYZ Affair

The XYZ Affair was a series of diplomatic events that involved the U.S. and France during the late 1790s and was one of the most pressing issues during John Adams’ presidency. This incident resulted in an undeclared war known as the Quasi-War. Peace was restored with the Convention of 1800 also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaine.

In the early 1790’s France and Britain were the world powers trying to control most commerce from and to their far away colonies. George Washington decided that the United States would not take sides and would remain neutral. When the U.S and Britain ratified the Jay Treaty in 1796, a treaty of amity, commerce and navigation, the French government was highly unsatisfied with the agreement as it gave Britain the most favored nation trading status. France reacted by seizing U.S. merchant ships in the West Indies and by refusing to receive Charles C. Pinckney, who replaced Monroe, as U.S. Ambassador to France. Facing arrest Pinckney had to flee to the Netherlands.

Multiple Select

How did France respond to the Jay treaty that they thought favored Britain?

• They seized American ships in the West Indies

• They declared War on the United States

• The refused to see Pinckney the representative from America to France

• They demanded that America Increase its aid to Britain

Multiple Choice

In the War between France and Britain Washington wanted America to

• Side with France

• Side With Britain

• Remain Neutral

• Help Both

John Adams wanted to avoid a full scale war with France opposing his own Federalist Party that under the direction of Alexander Hamilton used these events to turn U.S. citizens against France. Most of the impact of the XYZ affair was in domestic politics, as it was used as a tool for the opposition.

In July 1797, in order to peacefully settle the dispute the newly elected president John Adams sent a committee of three men –Charles Cotesworth Pinkney, John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry- to negotiate a peace agreement with France.

Multiple Choice

To settle the dispute what did Adams do?

• He sent three men to work out the terms of war

• He sent three men to Britain to work out a better agreement with them

• He sent three men to work out a treaty with France

• He gave France what they wanted

Multiple Choice

How did Alexander Hamilton use France's refusal to see our Ambassador and seizing our ships in the West Indies

• He used it to turn people against France in America

• He used it to name himself Ambassador to France

• He used it to turn the Country against Britain

• He used it to Turn the Country against the Federalist party

Upon their arrival the committee was unable to meet with the French Foreign Minister, Charles Maurice de Telleyrand, instead he sent three agents Jean-Conrad Hottinguer (“X”), Pierre Bellamy (“Y”) and Lucien Hauteval (“Z”) to negotiate a bribe of £50,000 and a loan to the French government before negotiations could begin. The Democrat – Republican Party, suspicious of Adam’s dealings, demanded that he release all correspondence with France, and in doing so, he replaced the French agent names with X, Y and Z.

Multiple Choice

When American reprenatives got to France what did the French agents ask for?

• Land

• War

• The end of all Hostilities

• a bribe

Meanwhile the U.S Navy was battling French ships in the Caribbean; Congress declared all French treaties nul and void, created the Navy Department and invested in the construction of warships, the U.S was getting ready to go to war with France. Talleyrand, the French foreign minister, attempted to restore relations and prevent a full scale war by accepting a new American commission that included William VansMurray, Oliver Ellsworth and William Richardson Davie. The outcome was the Convention of 1800 also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaine.

Multiple Choice

How did America respond to the French request for a bribe?

• They gave them the bribe

• They asked to negotiate the bribe

• They refused to pay the bribe and readied for war

• They tried to get Britain to pay the bribe

The treaty established a true and sincere Friendship between the French Republic and the United States of America giving each other the “Most Favored Nation” trade status. All the ships captured during the war were to be returned and French rights to fish off Newfoundland and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence were to be reestablished and guaranteed. The Treaty of Mortefontaine was ratified by both countries on December 21, 1801.

Multiple Choice

After America's refusal to pay a bribe how did France respond?

• They declared War

• They ignored America

• They labeled us their enemy

• They accepted a new American delegation and became friends