France and John Adams
Due to rising tension between France and Britain, the United States decided to remain neutral and claimed the right to trade nonmilitary goods with both Britain and France, but both countries seized American ships with impunity. In 1797, American diplomats were sent to Paris to negotiate a treaty with French foreign minister Talleyrand to replace the old alliance of 1778. French officials presented them with a demand for bribes before negotiations could proceed. When Adams made public the envoy’s dispatches the French officials were designated by the last three letters of the alphabet. This event is significant because this “XYZ Affair” poisoned America’s relations with its former ally, and by 1798, the United States and France were engaged in a “Quasi-War” at sea with French ships seizing American vessels in the Caribbean and American navy harassing the French. As a result, the U.S became a military ally of Great Britain and Adams eventually in 1800 negotiated peace with France contrary to pressure by Hamilton who wanted a declaration of war.
Source: Taken from college U.S History textbook.
