The XYZ Affair

In 1798, worried that emotions would push France and America into an open war, President John Adams sent a delegation consisting of John Marshall, Elbridge Gerry, and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney to Paris to try and calm these rising tensions. The delegation arrived in Paris in early October but were denied a meeting for weeks. They were finally approached by three French officials whose code names were X, Y, and Z. These Frenchmen informed the Americans that before any negotiations could start, a few “sweeteners” would need to be provided to French officials, including $250,000 for Foreign Minister Charles Talleyrand.
Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, discusses these negotiations, also known as the XYZ affair, and why it still matters today.
Photo Credits:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Library of Congress
Getty Museum Collection
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Library Company of Philadelphia
New York Public Library
National Gallery of Art
National Archives
Wikimedia

[@flemingtonmartinsvet]

Excellent!

[@AmericanaCorner]

Thank you!

[@lokibojangles]

Good morning, hope you had a good Christmas everyone and hopefully the New Year will be fruitful and peaceful for everybody.

[@AmericanaCorner]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@MrAwombat]

Very interesting. I have forgotten a lot about the alien and sedition acts i think that was 5th grade for me.

[@AmericanaCorner]

Thanks for watching and stay tuned. The next post will be on the Alien and Sedition Acts followed by The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. Take care.