The French were infuriated by Jay’s Treaty, believing it violated earlier treaties between the United States and France; as a result, they went on to seize a substantial number of American merchant ships.

President Adams had appointed a committee of ministers to negotiate with the French government. French officials kept the ministers waiting for several weeks. While they waited, the ministers had a visit from three Frenchmen — later called X, Y and Z.

President Madison sent three representatives to France to end the attacks but French refused. Later, the XYZ Affair came in action by the French,( a tribute) which outraged the Americans. At Adam’s urging, they recruit an army and formed the nation’s navy.

The Quasi-War (French: Quasi-guerre) was an undeclared war fought from 1798 to 1800 between the United States and France. Most of the fighting took place in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic coastline of the United States….

However, the U.S. government never sent troops, weapons or economic aid to French rebels. Americans feared they might experience political turmoil, international criticism and violence if they supported French revolutionaries.

When the French got a new government, the U.S refused to repay its old debts to the new leaders. When the United States refused to repay debts owed to France,France stopped all trade with the United States.

How did the French respond when the United States refused to repay debts owed to France? France declared war on the United States. France stopped all trade with the United States. France began to seize American ships and cargo.

European belligerents had financed the conflict through loans, mainly from the United States, and as a result France owed the United States 4,137,224,354 dollars, about 80% of it directly to the U.S. Treasury and the rest to American banks.