Making History Come Alive Newsletter offers the XYZ diplomatic episode of the late 1790's

The XYZ Affair, a diplomatic episode in the late 1790s, was a significant moment in early American history that tested the young nation's resolve and had lasting repercussions on its foreign policy and domestic politics. Occurring during the presidency of John Adams, the affair involved a confrontation between the United States and France that nearly led to war and highlighted the complexities of international diplomacy in the post-Revolutionary era.

The roots of the XYZ Affair lay in the turbulent international context of the late 18th century. The United States, having recently gained independence, sought to navigate a world dominated by European powers. France, once an ally during the American Revolutionary War, found itself embroiled in the French Revolutionary Wars against various European coalitions, including Britain. The Jay Treaty of 1794 between the United States and Britain, which aimed to resolve lingering conflicts from the Revolutionary War, was perceived by France as a betrayal, leading to increased tensions between the two nations.

By 1797, French privateers had begun seizing American ships engaged in trade with Britain, exacerbating the strained relationship. In an effort to avert war, President John Adams sent a diplomatic delegation to France in 1797. The American envoys – Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry – were tasked with negotiating a resolution to the conflict and securing compensation for the seized ships.

Upon their arrival in Paris, the American diplomats were approached by three French agents, later referred to as X, Y, and Z in official documents to protect their identities. These agents, representing the French Foreign Minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, demanded substantial bribes and loans from the American delegation as a precondition for beginning formal negotiations. Specifically, they requested a 50,000-pound sterling bribe for Talleyrand and a large loan to the French government. The Americans, outraged by these demands, refused to comply and reported the incident to President Adams.

When news of the affair reached the United States in 1798, it generated a firestorm of public outrage. The American public, already wary of French revolutionary excesses, viewed the demands as an insult to national honor. President Adams, seeking to rally support for a firm response, released the diplomatic correspondence to Congress, substituting the names of the French agents with the letters X, Y, and Z. This disclosure, known as the "XYZ Papers," inflamed anti-French sentiment and led to calls for military action.