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Similarities Between President Adams And Benjamin Franklin

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President Adams sent three representatives to France to ask the French to end the attacks. French foreign minister, Talleyrand refused to speak to the Americans. Instead, they were met by secret agents, later known only as X, Y, and Z. The agents said that no peace talks would be held unless Talleyrand received a large amount of money as a tribute. Shocked by the request, the American representatives refused. The XYZ Affair outraged Americans when the story reached home. At President Adams’s request, Congress voted to recruit an army of 10,000 men. It also voted to build 12 new ships for the nation’s tiny navy. The slogan “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!” was heard everywhere as Americans prepared for war. Meanwhile, Congress
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