The xyz affair outraged many Americans what was the president John Addams initial stance on how to handle the issue select all that apply

Question

• Adams asked Congress for a vote to declare war on France.
• Adams sent diplomats to negotiate with France.
• Adams wanted to declare war, but resisted due to political pressures.
• Adams wanted to stay out of European affairs.

Answer 1

John Adams' initial stance on the XYZ affair included the following approaches:

• Adams sent diplomats to negotiate with France: When he learned that Americans were being mistreated by the French, President Adams first tried to resolve the issue peacefully by sending a diplomatic commission to France to negotiate. However, the mission failed when French agents, known as X, Y, and Z in American reports, demanded bribes before negotiations could even begin.

• Adams wanted to stay out of European affairs: Adams, like many of his contemporaries, was wary of entangling the United States in European conflicts and politics. The United States was a young nation, and he saw the importance of focusing on its growth and stability rather than being drawn into the affairs of Europe.

It's important to note that:

• Adams asked Congress for a vote to declare war on France: While Adams did not initially seek a declaration of war, the outrage from the XYZ affair led to a quasi-war with France. Congress ended up passing a series of laws known as the Alien and Sedition Acts, and measures were taken to strengthen the U.S. military, but Adams never formally sought a declaration of war against France.

• Adams wanted to declare war, but resisted due to political pressures: This statement is partially true as there were certainly pressures and calls for war within his Federalist Party, and he saw the defense of national interest as a priority. However, Adams ultimately resisted these pressures, opting for a path that avoided full-scale war with France. His restraint is often seen as one of the significant achievements of his presidency, preserving peace despite the high tension with France.