Final answer:
The XYZ Affair involved French agents demanding bribes from American envoys. It unified the country under President Adams's administration as the public rallied against the French, despite increasing partisan division.
Step-by-step explanation:
The XYZ Affair and Its Impact on American Unity
The XYZ Affair was a significant diplomatic incident during President John Adams's administration. In 1797, Adams sent envoys to France to negotiate issues regarding American ships being attacked. Instead of negotiations, French agents, referred to as X, Y, and Z, demanded bribes and loans to France. This demand infuriated Americans when Adams made it public, bolstering support for his administration and unifying the country against France.
The event exacerbated existing partisan political divisions. Despite this polarization, the affair had a unifying effect; it rallied the Federalists and citizens around a collective sense of American dignity. In response to the outrage, Adams utilized the moment to foster national unity but refrained from declaring full-scale war. He advocated for arming American ships as a protective measure. This measure, along with the release of correspondence related to the XYZ Affair, momentarily placed the country on a more unified footing, despite ongoing political disagreements.
Although Adams's Federalist Party gained popularity, and the nation geared up for the Quasi-War with France, this unity was jeopardized by the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts. The acts were seen by many as oppressive and targeting political dissent, thus contributing to renewed domestic conflict.