the XYZ affair outraged many Americans what was president John Adams initial stance on how to handle the issue. Select all that apply
A. Adam’s asked Congress for a vote to declare war on France
B. Adams send diplomats to negotiate with France
C. Adams want to do a declare war, but resisted due to political pressures.
D. Adams wanted to stay out of European affairs.
B. Adams sent diplomats to negotiate with France
C. Adams wanted to declare war, but resisted due to political pressures
President John Adams initially attempted a diplomatic solution to the tensions with France by sending diplomats to negotiate (known as the XYZ Affair), but when it became apparent that French agents were demanding bribes and loans in return for negotiations, public sentiment in the United States turned against France. While Adams faced pressure to declare war against France, especially from members of his own Federalist Party, he ultimately chose to resist these demands in favor of a more measured response, which included military preparedness and limited naval engagements (known as the Quasi-War), rather than a full declaration of war. Adams managed to avoid full-scale war, preferring to keep the United States out of European conflicts, while still defending American interests.