What diplomatic conflict involved a demand for a bribe from American envoys by France?

The XYZ Affair refers to a diplomatic conflict that took place in the late 1790s between the United States and France. In this incident, American envoys were sent to France to negotiate issues arising from the French Revolution and the subsequent tensions between the two nations. Upon arrival, the American representatives were approached by three French agents, commonly referred to as X, Y, and Z, who demanded a bribe and a loan in exchange for the opportunity to speak with the French foreign minister. This demand outraged the American public and government, leading to heightened tensions and eventually contributing to the undeclared naval conflict known as the Quasi-War. The XYZ Affair is significant as it demonstrated the challenges of early American diplomacy and fueled anti-French sentiment in the United States, thereby shaping the nation's foreign policy in the years to come.

The other conflicts listed, such as the Quasi-War, the Impressment Crisis, and the Barbary Wars, emerge from different contexts concerning U.S. relations, but they do not encapsulate the specific incident of American diplomats being directly solicited for a bribe by foreign agents, which is the hallmark of the XYZ Affair.