From Whitehouse.gov

Question

When Adams became President, the war between the French and British was causing great difficulties for the United States on the high seas and intense partisanship [taking of sides] among contending factions within the Nation.

His administration focused on France, where the Directory, the ruling group, had refused to receive the American envoy and had suspended commercial relations.

Adams sent three commissioners to France, but in the spring of 1798 word arrived that the French Foreign Minister Talleyrand and the Directory had refused to negotiate with them unless they would first pay a substantial bribe. Adams reported the insult to Congress, and the Senate printed the correspondence, in which the Frenchmen were referred to only as "X, Y, and Z."…

President Adams did not call for a declaration of war, but hostilities began at sea. At first, American shipping was almost defenseless against French privateers, but by 1800 armed merchantmen and U.S. warships were clearing the sea-lanes.

—WhiteHouse.gov

Question 1
Arrange the events below into the correct order, as described by the passage.

You may use the check answer button two times.

(1 point)
Arrange responses in the correct order to answer the question. Select a response, navigate to the desired position and insert response at that position. Responses can be selected and inserted using the space bar, enter key, left mouse button or touchpad. Responses can be moved using the up and down arrow keys or by dragging with a mouse.
Question 2
Use the excerpt to answer the question.

Based on the information in the excerpt, what can be inferred about the effect the war between France and England had on the United States?

(1 point)
Responses

The attacks on American shipping vessels led to a build-up of an American naval force.
The attacks on American shipping vessels led to a build-up of an American naval force.

The refusal to pay the bribe resulted in a suspension in French trade that deeply altered the American economy.
The refusal to pay the bribe resulted in a suspension in French trade that deeply altered the American economy.

The unwillingness of the French to negotiate brought about a long period of distrust of the French Directory.
The unwillingness of the French to negotiate brought about a long period of distrust of the French Directory.

The disagreements between political parties on issues relating to the war led to the inability of Congress to function.
The disagreements between political parties on issues relating to the war led to the inability of Congress to function.
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Answer 1

Question 1: Arrange the events below into the correct order.

1. The war between the French and British caused difficulties for the United States.
2. Adams sent three commissioners to France.
3. French Foreign Minister Talleyrand and the Directory refused to negotiate unless a bribe was paid.
4. Adams reported the insult to Congress and the Senate printed the correspondence.
5. Hostilities began at sea, affecting American shipping.
6. By 1800, armed merchantmen and U.S. warships were clearing the sea-lanes.

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Question 2: Based on the information in the excerpt, what can be inferred about the effect the war between France and England had on the United States?

The attacks on American shipping vessels led to a build-up of an American naval force.

This response reflects the direct consequence of hostilities at sea, as mentioned in the passage, where American shipping was initially defenseless but later saw the development of armed merchantmen and warships to protect the sea-lanes.