The main cause of the XYZ Affair was the signing of the Jay Treaty between the US and Great Britain. The treaty was meant to prevent a war between the two nations by not allowing the US to trade with “hostile nations,” such as France.

What caused the XYZ Affair quizlet?

An incident in which French agents attempted to get a bribe and loans from US diplomats in exchange for an agreement that French privateers would no longer attack American ships. It led to an undeclared war between the two countries.

Which negotiation started the XYZ Affair?

XYZ Affair, diplomatic incident that, when made public in 1798, nearly involved the United States and France in war. Pres.John Adams dispatched three ministers to France in 1797 to negotiate a commercial agreement to protect U.S. shipping.