The XYZ affair outraged many Americans what was President John Adams initial stance on how to handle this issue
(a) Adams asked Congress to vote to declare war on France
(b) Adams said diplomat mats to negotiate with France
(c) Adams wanted to declare war but resisted due to political pressure
(d) Adams wanted to stay out of European affairs
(d) Adams wanted to stay out of European affairs.
The correct answer is: (b) Adams sent diplomats to negotiate with France.
President John Adams initially chose to send diplomats to negotiate with France to resolve the XYZ affair. Declaration of war (option a) was not his immediate stance. While he faced political pressure to declare war (option c), he resisted such action. Adams also advocated for staying out of European affairs (option d), but his first response to the XYZ affair was diplomatic negotiations.
To find the answer to this question, we can look at credible sources such as historical documents, biographies, or academic articles about President John Adams and his response to the XYZ affair.
One such source could be "John Adams: A Life" by David McCullough. In this book, McCullough extensively researched Adams and his presidency. Another source could be the official archives or papers related to John Adams, such as those available through the National Archives or presidential libraries.
By examining these sources, we can determine the most accurate and well-supported answer.
Considering President John Adams' initial stance on how to handle the XYZ affair, the option that aligns with historical accounts is:
(b) Adams sent diplomats to negotiate with France.
During the XYZ affair, which occurred in the late 1790s, American diplomats were sent to France to negotiate with French officials. The affair involved French agents demanding bribes from American diplomats in exchange for diplomatic talks. While the event outraged many Americans, President Adams opted for negotiation rather than declaring war. Adams believed that diplomacy and peaceful resolution were essential for the nation's interest and wanted to avoid escalating the situation into a full-blown conflict.
It's important to note that Adams' response evolved over time, and he faced significant political pressure from both sides—those pushing for war and those advocating for a peaceful resolution. However, his initial stance was to send diplomats for negotiations rather than immediately declaring war or avoiding European affairs altogether.
To validate this answer and gain a more comprehensive understanding, it is always recommended to refer to reliable historical sources mentioned earlier.