"The Americans will regret violating the treaty and not giving us aid!"
"Oui, Sir. Let's capture their merchant ships!"
France was angry at America for violating the old treaty between France in the U.S by not coming to their aid during a war with Great Britian. So, France Captures 300+ American merchant ships.
Slide: 2
The XYZ Affair
"We are diplomats from America here to make peace with France. We would like to meet with Tallyrand."
¨If you wish to meet with Tallyrand you will need to pay a $250k bribe and after the meeting is complete, you will give us a $10 million dollar loan.
U.S. president John Adams sent 3 diplomats from America to meet with French diplomats to try to restore peace. Intsead of meeting with the Americans, France sent 3 spies later becoming known as X, Y, and Z to meet with the Americans with demands of large amounts of money.
Slide: 3
John Adams´ response
¨Then we will prepare for war. Hire shipbuilders to build ships and we will begin capturing French trade ships to make them come to peace on our terms. My slogan will be,¨Millions for defense, but not a cent for tribute.¨
¨Your Excelency, our diplomats have returned without meeting with the French as they demanded absurd amounts of money to be paid.¨
John Adams began preparing America for war and capturing French trade ships.
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