XYZ

John Adams defeated Thomas Jefferson in the 1796 election. Adams carried the northern states while Jefferson carried the south, it was the red and blue map before CNN was around!

Back then whoever did not win the presidency became the VP, which was Jefferson, and it was kind of awkward.


Soon Adams found himself face to face with a French crisis.

In 1794 the Jay Treaty was made. This treaty said the British would leave forts and America would pay pre-war debts to Britain. The French were not happy, they said it violated a Treaty they made with the U.S.. So the French started seizing U.S. Ships.

Adams sent some of his peeps to France to talk this out. This didn't end well. Some French officials known as just "X,Y, & Z" demanded $250,000 in bribes. Things were tense between the US and France, this event was known as the XYZ Affair [44].



[44] Not to be confused for "Hey, XYZ", which usually means your pants are unzipped...you looked didn't you?