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archer2371 · 09-09-2004, 01:07 PM

I don't argue that the French were not an essential part in forming our nation. They did help out a great deal, because it was in their national interest to form a trading ally with a neighbor that wasn't controlled by its arch-nemesis, the British Crown. I attribute the split with the French to almost two hundred years ago. First the Washington Administration sent Ambassador John Jay to England to obtain a commerce treaty, because the newly formed government and its people still relied heavily on trade with England. This infuriated France, they saw it as a slap in the face. Unfortunately, the situation in France was volatile at best and it seemed as if there was a new government forming every few months. Now, after the Adams Administration was elected, they recalled James Monroe in order to put in place a more favorable Federalist Delegation. Pinckney was already there, but the French would never talk to him. So Adams sent in John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry, and basically the French tried to buy off the United States. At first, President Adams tried to keep Marshall's report from reaching the public because he knew that it would incite warmongering in the brand new nation that was not necessary. Not to mention that it would bring back George Washington whom he knew would want the Federalist Pariah Alexander Hamilton as his second in command with a new standing army. However, one of the most notorious newsmongers in the nation, James Thomson Callender unwittingly brought the XYZ Affair in the public view which, much to the dismay of his republican compatriots made Adams a popular President. Eventually, the anti-Federalists fell out of favor in the public eye, because they were very sympathetic to the French. So basically, that sentiment against France has remained in the United States for over two hundred years. It's nothing new.
Now for your reading pleasure, sources!

(Very basic ones though, for a more in depth reading, I suggest the Anti-Federalist Papers and Scandalmonger by William Safire)

The XYZ Affair

Jay Treaty Info

James Thomson Callender

09-09-2004, 01:07 PM	#69 (permalink)
archer2371 Sarge of Blood Gulch Red Outpost Number One Location: On the front lines against our very enemy	I don't argue that the French were not an essential part in forming our nation. They did help out a great deal, because it was in their national interest to form a trading ally with a neighbor that wasn't controlled by its arch-nemesis, the British Crown. I attribute the split with the French to almost two hundred years ago. First the Washington Administration sent Ambassador John Jay to England to obtain a commerce treaty, because the newly formed government and its people still relied heavily on trade with England. This infuriated France, they saw it as a slap in the face. Unfortunately, the situation in France was volatile at best and it seemed as if there was a new government forming every few months. Now, after the Adams Administration was elected, they recalled James Monroe in order to put in place a more favorable Federalist Delegation. Pinckney was already there, but the French would never talk to him. So Adams sent in John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry, and basically the French tried to buy off the United States. At first, President Adams tried to keep Marshall's report from reaching the public because he knew that it would incite warmongering in the brand new nation that was not necessary. Not to mention that it would bring back George Washington whom he knew would want the Federalist Pariah Alexander Hamilton as his second in command with a new standing army. However, one of the most notorious newsmongers in the nation, James Thomson Callender unwittingly brought the XYZ Affair in the public view which, much to the dismay of his republican compatriots made Adams a popular President. Eventually, the anti-Federalists fell out of favor in the public eye, because they were very sympathetic to the French. So basically, that sentiment against France has remained in the United States for over two hundred years. It's nothing new. Now for your reading pleasure, sources! (Very basic ones though, for a more in depth reading, I suggest the Anti-Federalist Papers and Scandalmonger by William Safire) The XYZ Affair Jay Treaty Info James Thomson Callender __________________ "This ain't no Ice Cream Social!" "Hey Grif, Chupathingy...how bout that? I like it...got a ring to it." "I have no earthly idea what it is I just saw, or what this place is, or where in the hell O'Malley is! My only choice is to blame Grif for coming up with such a flawed plan. Stupid, stupid Grif."