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The French grew angry with the United States after 1794 because __________

User Permaquid
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Final answer:

The French grew angry with the United States after 1794 due to Washington's proclamation of neutrality, Jay's Treaty aligning more with Britain, and a series of incidents including the XYZ Affair that escalated to the Quasi-War, in which France seized American ships.

Step-by-step explanation:

The French Resentment Towards the United States Post-1794

The French grew angry with the United States after 1794 due to a series of geopolitical and diplomatic incidents. France, amid its own revolution, had declared war against monarchies, including Great Britain, in February 1793. Based on the 1778 Treaty of Alliance, France expected the United States to assist them. However, given the dispute over debts and trade tensions, President George Washington opted to maintain neutrality, which upset the French. The neutrality proclamation was widely criticized by the Democratic-Republican party, which sympathized with the French Revolution. In addition, the subsequent Jay's Treaty between the United States and Great Britain in 1794 further strained relations, as it was seen as a betrayal by France, suggesting an American realignment with British interests.

Furthermore, the French were incensed by other events such as the XYZ Affair, where French diplomats demanded bribes from American envoys, leading to widespread public dismay in the U.S. and anti-French sentiment. In retaliation, France began seizing American ships, which culminated in the undeclared Quasi-War between the U.S. and France. The Federalists used these tensions with France to clamp down on immigrants and the press through the Alien and Sedition Acts, which also stoked anger and partisanship within the United States.

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