merchants and shippers. High Federalists, who believed very strongly in Federalist ways, saw the attacks between the U.S. and France as a perfect opportunity to declare war with France, because Federalists prefered Britain over France. Moderate Federalists and Republicans wanted to avoid war, so John Adams sent negotiators to France to stop the attacks and repair relations. The result of sending negotiators ended in the XYZ Affair, French negotiators asking for bribes before negotiating. High Federalists pushed for war even more after receiving this news. Adams continued negotiations despite all the pressure and managed to avoid a war with France while restoring relations. Avoiding a war was a major step for President Adams to help to establish a stable government because going into war with France would have heightened tensions between High Federalists and Republicans and even with Moderate Federalists. The parties would have had a larger reason to fight and progress would not be made in the