The XYZ Affair, a diplomatic incident in 1797-98, exemplified the heightened tensions between the United States and Revolutionary France, driven by requests for bribes.
President Adams and his Federalist Party sought to distance the U.S. from the violence of the French Revolution while closer aligning with Great Britain, causing political divisions.
The public outrage in the U.S. stemmed from the revelation that French agents had demanded a bribe for negotiations, significantly turning public opinion against France.
The subsequent Quasi-War highlighted the consequences of the XYZ Affair, showcasing an undeclared naval conflict fueled by escalating Franco-American tensions.
Collection
[
|
...
]