How did the xyz affair affect the relationship between the US and France?

The XYZ Affair significantly strained relations between the United States and France in the late 1790s. It involved a diplomatic incident where French agents demanded bribes from American diplomats, leading to widespread outrage in the U.S. and calls for war. As a result, the U.S. entered an undeclared naval conflict known as the Quasi-War with France, which heightened tensions and fostered anti-French sentiment in America. Ultimately, the affair marked a turning point that shifted U.S. foreign policy towards greater independence from European powers.