XYZ affair (jan 29, 1797 – jun 28, 1798)
Description:
The French were infuriated by Jay’s Treaty, believing it violated earlier treaties between the United States and France; as a result, they went on to seize a substantial number of American merchant ships.
Instead, he put them off and eventually had three agents inform the U.S. commissioners that in order to see him they first would have to pay him a hefty bribe and provide France with a large loan
Added to timeline:
APUSH Timeline
Date:
