XYZ AFFAIR
- The XYZ Affair was from 1797 to 1798. - When France and Britain went to war in 1793, it strained French-American relations. - In 1796, France started seizing American ships and the French government refused to receive the American minister, Charles C. Pinckney. - On May 16, 1797, Adams sent a message to Congress supporting the build up of defenses. - Adams also decided to send a delegation to France to improve relations. - Adams sent Charles C. Pinckney (who was already in Europe), Elbridge Gerry, and John Marshall to France in 1797. They had to get France: 1) to accept the Jay Treaty 2) revise the 1778 treaty, so U.S. would not need to guarantee French holdings in the West Indies and not use U.S troops in France's war with England 3) recover damages from French privateering and unpaid claims of supplies with the French government - Conrad Hottinguer (X),Pierre Bellamy (Y),Lucien Hauteval (Z). - The French asked that a large bribe, over a quarter of a million dollars, be given before negotiations even began. The American officials refused and when further talks failed the Americans returned home in the spring of 1798. - It became known as The XYZ Affair because that was the name published in the American news papers. |