XYZ Affair

XYZ Affair

pg. 300

Election of 1796

• Federalists and Adams accused Jefferson of being an atheist who would bring the chaos of French Revolution here

• Democ-Repub. and Jefferson accused Adams of acting like a king

• John Adams (Washington's VP) won against Thomas Jefferson (former Sect. of State)

Multiple Choice

Who became the 2nd president of the U.S.?

• John Adams

• Thomas Jefferson

• George Washington

Start of the US-French Conflict

• Washington had decided U.S. would not get involved in French conflict with Britain (neutral)

• France took U.S. ships to prevent US trade with Britain

• Adams tried to resolve this conflict with France and get our stuff back.

Multiple Choice

Why was France mad at the U.S.?

• We wouldn't take their side and continued trade with Britain.

• We took their ships and goods.

• We helped the French king and queen in the Revolution.

XYZ Affair

• Adams sent envoys to meet with French (Agents X, Y, and Z to the public)

• French agents demanded money (bribes and low-interest loans) before they'd talk about negotiations

• American envoys refused & went home.

Multiple Choice

Why did U.S. envoys fail to negotiate with the French?

• the American envoys were too demanding

• the French agents demanded money first

• Americans really wanted a war with France

Fallout from XYZ Affair

• Hurt relationship between US and France even more

• Hurt reputation of Democratic-Republicans (who supported the French)

• War fever in the U.S. - government builds up the army, establishes a navy, cuts all alliances with France

Multiple Choice

What was the effect (in the U.S.) of the XYZ Affair?

• U.S. preparing for war - built up army and navy

• U.S. joined Britain in the war

• U.S. had to find bribe money