Why did the X,Y & Z affair outrage Americans?

Question: Why did the X,Y & Z affair outrage Americans!?

you will get 10 pointsWww@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Here is a very solid article on the whole matter:
http://ap!.grolier!.com/article!?assetid=04!.!.!.

You might say the outrage was prompted by France's "adding insult to injury"!. They had been seizing American ships (in retaliation for the Jay Treaty, which they believed broke the agreements between France & the U!.S!. going back to the American Revolution)!. When Americans attempted to negotiate about the matter they were rebuffed, then finally pressured to offer a bribe for the simple privilege of seeing Talleyrand (that is, simply to be ALLOWED to negotiate)!.

It was this combination that caused such anger in America!.Www@QuestionHome@Com