The "XYZ" Affair (1 gen 1797 anni – 1 gen 1798 anni)

Descrizione:

France and Great Britain were fighting a war while America remained neutral. This angered the french who believed that America should be helping them. France started to attack American merchant ships and stole what was on them. This angered America and when John Adams was elected president in 1797, he sent three delegates to speak with France. France would stop attacking American ships if America gave them a big loan. America refused and was angered by this, wanting to go to war. The Continental Congress wished to see the reports of the delegates, which Adams gave but changed the names of the delegates to the letters, "X","Y", and "Z'. The picture depicts a political cartoon of the affair, showing America as a rich woman being plundered by french men.