Difference between revisions of "XYZ Affair"
(Quality New!) |
m (→The Affiar: typo) |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
After the [[Jay Treaty]] between the United States and [[England]], tension occurred between the U.S. and France primarily due to the [[Napoleonic wars]] between England and France.<ref name="Law Library">{{cite web|url=http://law.jrank.org/pages/11426/XYZ-Affair.html|title=XYZ Affair|work=Law Library - American Law and Legal Information|accessdate=2007-01-13}}</ref> Adams appointed [[Charles Pinckney]] as minister to France,<ref name="Law Library" /> however, when Pickney attempted to negotiate a relatively minor treaty that would protect U.S. shipping from French privateers, France refused to recognize him.<ref name="HighBeam">{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1B1-383055.html|work=High Beam Encyclopedia|title=XYZ Affair|accessdate=2007-01-13}}</ref> | After the [[Jay Treaty]] between the United States and [[England]], tension occurred between the U.S. and France primarily due to the [[Napoleonic wars]] between England and France.<ref name="Law Library">{{cite web|url=http://law.jrank.org/pages/11426/XYZ-Affair.html|title=XYZ Affair|work=Law Library - American Law and Legal Information|accessdate=2007-01-13}}</ref> Adams appointed [[Charles Pinckney]] as minister to France,<ref name="Law Library" /> however, when Pickney attempted to negotiate a relatively minor treaty that would protect U.S. shipping from French privateers, France refused to recognize him.<ref name="HighBeam">{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1B1-383055.html|work=High Beam Encyclopedia|title=XYZ Affair|accessdate=2007-01-13}}</ref> | ||
| − | ==The | + | ==The Affair== |
Adams sent [[John Marshall]] and [[Elbridge Gerry]] to assist Pickney,<ref name="USHist">{{cite web|url=http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h465.html|work=US History.com|title=XYZ Affair|accessdate=2007-01-13}}</ref> however [[Charles Maurice de Talleyrand]] ignored the men for weeks until he sent three agents to demand a $250,000 bribe for himself and a $10 million loan for France.<ref name="Law Library" /> Outraged, the U.S. agents sent a report to Adams, who then passed it on to [[Congress]], replacing the French agents' names with "X", "Y" and "Z".<ref name="Law Library"/> Anticipating a war with France, Adams passed the [[Alien and Sedition Acts]] - which essentially made it more difficult for immigrants to gain citizenship and made it easier to expel aliens. These acts were aimed at French and [[Ireland|Irish]] immigrants thought to be supportive of France.<ref name="Law Library" /> | Adams sent [[John Marshall]] and [[Elbridge Gerry]] to assist Pickney,<ref name="USHist">{{cite web|url=http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h465.html|work=US History.com|title=XYZ Affair|accessdate=2007-01-13}}</ref> however [[Charles Maurice de Talleyrand]] ignored the men for weeks until he sent three agents to demand a $250,000 bribe for himself and a $10 million loan for France.<ref name="Law Library" /> Outraged, the U.S. agents sent a report to Adams, who then passed it on to [[Congress]], replacing the French agents' names with "X", "Y" and "Z".<ref name="Law Library"/> Anticipating a war with France, Adams passed the [[Alien and Sedition Acts]] - which essentially made it more difficult for immigrants to gain citizenship and made it easier to expel aliens. These acts were aimed at French and [[Ireland|Irish]] immigrants thought to be supportive of France.<ref name="Law Library" /> | ||
===End=== | ===End=== | ||
Talleyrand, unwilling to go to war, sought to end the dispute, and the [[Treaty of Morfontaine]] restored normal relations between the two countries.<ref name="Law Library" /> | Talleyrand, unwilling to go to war, sought to end the dispute, and the [[Treaty of Morfontaine]] restored normal relations between the two countries.<ref name="Law Library" /> | ||
| + | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:United States History]] | [[Category:United States History]] | ||
Revision as of 15:41, January 13, 2008
The XYZ Affair occurred during John Adams' presidency when three French demanded a bribe from the United States.
Background
After the Jay Treaty between the United States and England, tension occurred between the U.S. and France primarily due to the Napoleonic wars between England and France.[1] Adams appointed Charles Pinckney as minister to France,[1] however, when Pickney attempted to negotiate a relatively minor treaty that would protect U.S. shipping from French privateers, France refused to recognize him.[2]
The Affair
Adams sent John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry to assist Pickney,[3] however Charles Maurice de Talleyrand ignored the men for weeks until he sent three agents to demand a $250,000 bribe for himself and a $10 million loan for France.[1] Outraged, the U.S. agents sent a report to Adams, who then passed it on to Congress, replacing the French agents' names with "X", "Y" and "Z".[1] Anticipating a war with France, Adams passed the Alien and Sedition Acts - which essentially made it more difficult for immigrants to gain citizenship and made it easier to expel aliens. These acts were aimed at French and Irish immigrants thought to be supportive of France.[1]
End
Talleyrand, unwilling to go to war, sought to end the dispute, and the Treaty of Morfontaine restored normal relations between the two countries.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 XYZ Affair. Law Library - American Law and Legal Information. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
- ↑ XYZ Affair. High Beam Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
- ↑ XYZ Affair. US History.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.