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The XYZ Affair was a diplomatic incident between French and United States diplomats that resulted in a limited, undeclared war known as the Quasi-War<youtube>https://www. U.S. and French negotiators restored peace with the Convention of 1800, also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaineyoutube.com/watch?v=GjYsto5_uOE</youtube>

These commissioners, like others of the Adams administration, viewed France as a center of decadence and intrigue __NOTOC__[[File:Combat_naval_pendant_la_quasi_guerre.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Battle between <i>L'Insurgante</i> and the rampant intrigue and factions of USS Constellation during the Directory made it difficult for Quasi-War. The Constellation won the Americans to accomplish their missionbattle and captured <i>L'Insurgante</i>. Upon arriving in France, Gerry, Pinckney ]]The XYZ Affair was a diplomatic incident between French and Marshall found United States diplomats that they were unable to formally meet with the Foreign Ministerresulted in a limited, undeclared war known as the Marquis de TalleyrandQuasi-War. The U.S. envoys were instead approached by several intermediaries, Nicholas Hubbard (later W,) Jean Hottinguer (X), Pierre Bellamy (Y), and Lucien Hauteval (Z.) Also involved French negotiators restored peace with these negotiations was the playwright Pierre BeaumarchaisConvention of 1800, who had been involved in funneling French aid to also known as the Treaty of Mortefontaine. In the United States during late 1700s, the American Revolution. These final French intermediaries stated that Talleyrand would be willing to meet with Revolutionary government, the Americans and come to an agreement if several conditions Directory, experienced problems financing its European wars. Many leaders were to be satisfied. The French demanded also angry that the United States provide France had concluded the Jay Treaty with a low-interest loanGreat Britain in 1794. Consequently, assume and pay in 1796 French leaders decided to issue an order allowing for the seizure of American merchant claims against the Frenchships, and lastly pay a substantial bribe carefully timed to Talleyrand. The U.S. envoys were shocked, and also skeptical that any concessions would bring about substantial changes in French policycatch as many as possible by surprise.

Talleyrand’s strategy was mainly one of delay. He intended ====US diplomats respond to end attacks on French Piracy====President John Adams dispatched three U.S. merchant shipping, but wanted first envoys to increase his personal wealth, strengthen his political position within restore harmony between the Directory government, United States and ensure that he would deal only with Elbridge France—Elbridge Gerry, the American commissioner who seemed most friendly to French interestsCharles Cotesworth Pinckney, and John Marshall. Talleyrand’s intermediaries were also interested in preserving peace with Like others of the United States Adams administration, these commissioners viewed France as many a center of them had investments in U.S. businesses. Howeverdecadence and intrigue, as French military victories in Europe increased French power, the French changed the loan terms and threatened an invasion of the United States if the U.S. envoys did not capitulate. When the U.S. envoys proved unwilling to accede to French demands, Talleyrand eventually met with them formally, rampant intrigue and dropped most factions of his requirements, but did not agree to end the seizures of American ships. Pinckney and Marshall Directory made preparations it difficult for the Americans to leave France, while Gerry intended to stay in the hopes of averting a waraccomplish their mission.

In the meantime, the envoys’ dispatches reached the United States. President Adams prepared for war, and pro-war Federalists pushed Congress to support him. Leaders of the Democratic-Republican party were suspicious of Adams’ motives and demanded that he publicly release the diplomatic correspondence describing the negotiations Upon arriving in France. Adams, knowing its contentsGerry, Pinckney, obliged them and released Marshall found that they could not formally meet with the correspondenceForeign Minister, but replaced the names of the French Marquis de Talleyrand. The U.S. envoys were instead approached by several intermediaries with the letters , Nicholas Hubbard (later W, ) Jean Hottinguer (X), Pierre Bellamy (Y), and Lucien Hauteval (Z.) Also involved with these negotiations was the playwright Pierre Beaumarchais, who had been involved in funneling French aid to the United States during the American Revolution.

Thereafter Adams continued preparations for war, but did not venture to openly declare war. These French intermediaries stated that Talleyrand, realizing his blunder, attempted would be willing to restore relations, meet with the Americans and Congress approved a commission agree if several conditions were to negotiate an agreement with the be satisfied. The French government. In demanded that the meantimeUnited States provide France with a low-interest loan, the U.S. Navy began to fight assume and pay American merchant claims against the French in the Caribbean, while offering support and pay a substantial bribe to Toussaint L’Ouverture in Haiti. In 1799, Congress also passed the Logan Act in response to the visit of a pacifist Quaker, George Logan, who conducted negotiations with Talleyrand as a private citizen and returned to the United States announcing Talleyrand’s peaceful intentions. The Logan Act criminalized unauthorized diplomatic negotiationsU.S. envoys were shocked and skeptical that any concessions would substantially change French policy.

In the meantime peace negotiations proceeded in France====What were Talleyrand's Goals====Talleyrand’s strategy was mainly one of delay. Napoleon had come He intended to power, and was seeking to re-obtain Louisiana from Spainend attacks on U.S. merchant shipping. Consequently, Talleyrand, who remained as Foreign MinisterStill, He wanted to prevent further hostility with increase his personal wealth, strengthen his political position within the United States. For their partDirectory government, the British had delighted in the anti-French uproar in the United States and moved to assist the Americans against a common foe, revolutionary France. However, President Adams ultimately wanted to avoid a major war, confident ensure that had France wanted war it he would have responded deal only with Elbridge Gerry, the American commissioner who seemed most friendly to American attacks on French shipsinterests. Talleyrand feared that limited hostilities Talleyrand’s intermediaries were also interested in preserving peace with the United States might escalate into a full-scale war and let it be known that he would accept a new American diplomatic representative. Adams nominated a new representative to France despite public and Federalist disappointment that there would be no war, but conceded to Federalist demands and expanded the single nomination into a commission as many of threethem had investments in U.S. businesses.

However, as French military victories in Europe increased French power, the French changed the loan terms and threatened an invasion of the United States if the U.S. envoys did not capitulate. When the U.S. envoys proved unwilling to accede to French demands, Talleyrand eventually met with them formally and dropped most of his requirements, but did not agree to end American ships' seizures. Pinckney and Marshall made preparations to leave France, while Gerry intended to stay in the hopes of averting a war. ====The United States prepares for War with France====[[File:Charles_Maurice_de_Talleyrand-Périgord_by_François_Gérard,_1808.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, 1808]]In the meantime, the envoys’ dispatches reached the United States. President Adams prepared for war, and pro-war Federalists pushed Congress to support him. Leaders of the Democratic-Republican party were suspicious of Adams’ motives and demanded that he publicly release the diplomatic correspondence describing France's negotiations. Knowing its contents, Adams obliged them and released the correspondence, but replaced the names of the French intermediaries with the letters W, X, Y, and Z. Thereafter Adams continued preparations for war but did not venture to declare war openly. After realizing his blunder, Talleyrand attempted to restore relations, and Congress approved a commission to negotiate an agreement with the French government. In the meantime, the U.S. Navy began to fight the French in the Caribbean while offering support to Toussaint L’Ouverture in Haiti. In 1799, Congress also passed the Logan Act in response to the visit of a pacifist Quaker, George Logan, who conducted negotiations with Talleyrand as a private citizen and returned to the United States announcing Talleyrand’s peaceful intentions. The Logan Act criminalized unauthorized diplomatic negotiations. ====France and the United States avoid fullscale War with each other====In the meantime, peace negotiations proceeded in France. Napoleon had come to power and was seeking to re-obtain Louisiana from Spain. Consequently, Talleyrand, who remained as Foreign Minister, wanted to prevent further hostility with the United States. For their part, the British had delighted in the anti-French uproar in the United States and moved to assist the Americans against a common foe, revolutionary France. However, President Adams ultimately wanted to avoid a major war, confident that had France wanted war. It would have responded to American attacks on French ships. Talleyrand feared that limited hostilities with the United States might escalate into a full-scale war and let it be known that he would accept a new American diplomatic representative. Adams nominated a new representative to France despite public and Federalist disappointment that there would be no war, but conceded to Federalist demands and expanded the single nomination into a commission of three. ====Conclusion====The negotiators chose to annul the 1778 Treaty of Alliance, and instead negotiated a new agreement based on the 1776 Model Treaty—this resulted in the Convention of 1800. Since the new agreement made no provisions for compensation for the seizure of U.S. merchant ships' seizure, the Senate did not ratify a finalized version of the treaty until December 18, 1801. The Convention of 1800 terminated the only formal treaty of alliance of the United States. It would be nearly a century and a half before the United States entered into another formal alliance.

* Article: [https://history.state.gov/milestones/17501784-17751800/albanyxyz| The XYZ Affair and the Quasi-plan| Albany Plan War with France, 1798–1800] [[Category:US State Department]] [[Category:Wikis]][[Category:United States History]] [[Category:French History]] [[Category:History of Union, 1754the Early Republic]] [[Category:18th Century History]] [[Category:Political History]] [[Category:Diplomatic History]]