The 'XYZ' Affair
Adams Administration (Federalist)
A diplomatic incident between the U.S. and France referred to as the “X, Y, Z Affair” nearly led to a war between the two nations. Three French agents (referred to by President John Adams as “X, Y, and Z”) demanded $50,000 pounds, a $10 million loan and a $250,000 bribe to French Foreign Minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand in exchange for bilateral peace negotiations with France. The U.S. refused. The affair caused an unofficial naval war, but the two countries negotiated their differences and ended their conflict in 1800.
Source: American-presidents.org
