Transcript Today’s Learning agenda

THE NEAR WAR: JOHN ADAMS
STRUGGLES WITH FRANCE
The XYZ AFFAIR AND ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS
The French Revolution’s Affect
 Since 1792 the French had been struggling to first overthrow the
French king and second reorganize their government.
 The citizens of France had executed their king and installed a new
government led by the Directory (a council) that controlled the
executive powers.
The rest of the world was nervous (including the United States) of
what France might become.
France and the rest of Europe at war
 Just like England before and after them France
captured and robbed U.S. ships in the Atlantic
Ocean.
 Americans wanted to avoid war but did not want
to look weak and encourage more piracy and
impressment by the French.
The XYZ Affair
 President Adams sent three
American ministers (not church
men) to France to negotiate an
end to hostilities with France.
 The Americans met with
France’s foreign minister.
President Adams
 The French minister and the
people who worked for him
were corrupt and demanded a
loan for the French government
as well as personal bribes for
him.
 The Americans got insulted and
left France.
Minister Talleyrand
John Adams reaction to the XYZ Affair
 Adams and many in the Federalist Party demanded that
something be done to protect the United States against foreign
threats.
 The so-called Alien and Sedition Acts were passed and created
strict punishments were created for anyone who was believed to
be sympathetic to France or criticize the U.S. government.
 People all over the U.S. became paranoid of foreigners.
 Thomas Jefferson and James Madison secretly wrote a series of
articles called the Virginia and Kentucky resolves that criticized
these laws.
Assignment: Fear and Xenophobia
 Write a short paragraph (5-8) about Adams’
reaction to the XYZ Affair.
 Compare his fears to anything that is
happening or has recently happened in the
U.S. related to foreign countries and their
people.
 Be prepared to share your thoughts with the
class.
Image sources
 http://schoolworkhelper.net/wp-
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