Election of 1796

• Federalists and Adams accused Jefferson of being an atheist who would bring the chaos of French Revolution here

• Democ-Repub. and Jefferson accused Adams of acting like a king

• John Adams (Washington's VP) won against Thomas Jefferson (former Sect. of State)

Start of the US-French Conflict

• Washington had decided U.S. would not get involved in French conflict with Britain (neutral)

• France took U.S. ships to prevent US trade with Britain

• Adams tried to resolve this conflict with France and get our stuff back.

XYZ Affair

• Adams sent envoys to meet with French (Agents X, Y, and Z to the public)

• French agents demanded money (bribes and low-interest loans) before they'd talk about negotiations

• American envoys refused & went home.

Fallout from XYZ Affair

• Hurt relationship between US and France even more

• Hurt reputation of Democratic-Republicans (who supported the French)

• War fever in the U.S. - government builds up the army, establishes a navy, cuts all alliances with France