XYZ Affair
Storyboard Text
- XYZ Affair the U.S. Response
- Absolutely not!
- We require a tribute!
- Undeclared War
- Alien and Sedition Acts
- Any aliens shall be imprisoned and you are forbidden from criticizing the government!
- After France had been attacking US ships over an alleged breach of treaty, the US sent 3 representatives to negotiate with France. Secret agents, named X, Y and Z, agreed to speak to the Americans. France agreed to stop attacking the US ships, but the US would have to pay a tribute. The American representatives refused.
- State's Rights
- The Alien and Sedition Acts are unconstitutional!
- This sent off an undeclared war between the US and France since Adams wanted to keep the peace.
- Effect on the Acts
- .......
- The Alien and Sedition Acts
- Public anger soon rose against aliens, such as the many Europeans who came to the US in the 1790s, and they wondered if they were still going to be loyal to the US if we went to war with France. Federalists responded with the Alien and Sedition Acts to protect the nation. The Alien Act imprisoned or sent away aliens and the Sedition Act made it illegal to speak, write, or publish anything critical of the government.
- End of the Conflict
- The Republicans however, opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts as they diminished people’s rights.Thomas Jefferson and James Madison drafted documents that protested the acts and the Virginia and Kentucky legislatures passed. The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions claimed the acts were unconstitutional, since they took away the people and state’s rights, and should be nullified.
- The Acts and Federalists were politically unpopular, so they urged Adams to go to war with France. Adams, again, refused and he sent another commission to seek peace with France.
- In 1800, France agreed to stop attacking American ships and made a new peace treaty. However, this hurt Adams chances of being reelected and even Hamilton and his followers opposed him. The Federalists were split, and the Republican candidate, Thomas Jefferson, was set for his election that year.
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