The Neutrality Proclamation of 1793 was initially issued to establish that the United States would side with no European country during war. Shortly afterward, Britain began to seize numerous American ships carrying food and various goods. British officers were also aiding the Native Americans to fight American settlers. In an attempt to prevent war with the British, President Washington dispatched John Jay in hopes he could formulate a compromise with Britain. The results of Jay’s negotiating was referred to as Jay’s Treaty. Jay’s Treaty put an end to conflict between the United States and Britain that began in the early 1790’s. In accordance with Jay’s Treaty, Britain was to compensate the United States for any damage they brought to American …show more content…
In response to Jay’s Treaty, the French attacked U.S. ships and the United States began attacking French ships in exchange. All this conflict on the sea signified a quasi-war (or unofficial war) with France. To end the quasi-war, President John Adams dispatched three men to France in order to negotiate some sort of treaty. When the peace delegation arrived to begin consulting with the French, French minister Talleyrand sent three representatives to demand a bribe from the United States in exchange for negotiating, an event that came to be known as the XYZ Affair. Insulted by the bribe, the American negotiators returned to the United States. Upon receiving news of the French’s behavior, John Adams decided to keep it a secret from the public in fear it would cause mass hysteria and uproar. After much suspicion, however, word of France’s actions was revealed and spurred much protest from citizens who declared they wanted war. Adams knew that an arduous and costly war was not best for the country, so he attempted to mitigate the uproar by passing the Alien and Sedition