Anti-French sentiment in the United States is the manifestation of Francophobia by Americans. It signifies a consistent hostility toward the government, culture, and people of France that employs stereotypes. It has a strong relation with inner-American political conflicts, as French attitudes and status symbols were closely connected with parts of American elites and leaders. In some cases anti-French sentiment may be driven by xenophobia, a general aversion toward foreigners.
As with any xenophobia, Francophobia in the U.S. can be distinguished from rational criticism of France. However, the different concepts and use of 'rationality' per se are already of interest. The founding history of the United States was built on French support during the American Revolution. Despite the positive view Jeffersonian Americans had of the French Revolution, it awakened or created anti-French feelings among many Federalists. An ideological split was already emerging between Francophobe and Francophile sentiment, with John Adams, Alexander Hamilton and their fellow Federalists taking a skeptical view of France, even as Thomas Jefferson and other Democratic-Republicans urged closer ties. As for the Revolution, many or most Federalists denounced it as far too radical and violent. Those on the Democratic-Republican side remained broadly supportive. Pierre Bourdieu and Stanley Hoffmann have suggested that one of the roots of anti-French sentiments in the United States (and anti-American sentiments in France) is the claim of both countries that their social and political systems are "models" that universally apply. France's alleged secularism was often something of an issue for the Americans. There are some similarities there to the Federalists' reaction to perceived French anti-clericalism.