President John Adams initially adopted a stance of restraint in dealing with the XYZ Affair. The incident, which involved French diplomats demanding bribes from American representatives in exchange for negotiations, stirred public outrage and calls for war against France. However, Adams believed that war would be detrimental to the young nation.
Instead of escalating tensions, he sought to resolve the issue through diplomacy. Adams chose to strengthen the navy and prepare for potential conflict while simultaneously trying to negotiate with France. Ultimately, he avoided war and sought a peaceful resolution, which included ending the quasi-war with France and returning to negotiations, despite facing significant political pressure from those in his party who favored a more aggressive approach. Adams's decision to maintain peace helped to preserve the stability of the nation during a tumultuous period.
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