Barbary Wars

The Barbary Wars were a series of two wars fought by the United States, Sweden, and the Kingdom of Sicily against the Barbary states (including Tunis, Algiers, and Tripoli) and Morocco of North Africa in the early 19th century. These wars were the first major American wars fought entirely outside the New World, and in the Arab world.

The wars were largely a reaction to piracy by the Barbary states. For centuries, North African pirates had captured ships and raided European coastal areas across the Mediterranean Sea. They captured people for slavery or to demand ransom. By the 19th century, although pirate activity had declined, the Barbary pirates still demanded tribute from American merchant ships. If the United States refused to pay, American ships and goods could be captured, and crew members could be enslaved or held for ransom.

After Thomas Jefferson became president of the U.S. in March 1801, he sent a U.S. Navy fleet to the Mediterranean to fight the Barbary pirates. The fleet attacked many fortified cities in present-day Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria. This led to agreements from the Barbary states, ending the first war. Later, during the War of 1812, the Barbary corsairs started attacking American ships again. After the War of 1812 ended, James Madison, Jefferson’s successor, led forces in the Second Barbary War. This short conflict ended the need for the United States to pay tribute, secured full shipping rights in the Mediterranean Sea, and greatly reduced piracy in the region. For the articles examining each war individually, see First Barbary War and Second Barbary War. For an earlier Barbary war, see Dutch–Barbary war.

Background

The Barbary corsairs were pirates and privateers based in North Africa, mainly in the ports of Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers. These pirates sailed across the Mediterranean and even reached as far as West Africa, Ireland, and Iceland. Their main goal was to capture people and sell them in slave markets in North Africa.

The Barbary states were part of the larger Ottoman Empire, but they acted independently. For many years, these pirates attacked ships and coastal towns, capturing people and demanding money for their return. When the United States became independent, it faced these same attacks. At first, the U.S. paid money to avoid attacks, but later decided to build a navy to protect its ships instead. This led to conflicts known as the Barbary Wars.

History

United States Mediterranean policy

Main article: Algerian–American War (1785–1795)

After Spain made peace with Algiers in 1785, Algerian pirates started attacking American ships, capturing two in July 1785 and demanding large payments for their release. The new U.S. government, formed in 1789, began building a navy to protect its ships.

Thomas Jefferson, who became president later, believed the U.S. should fight back instead of paying. He wanted to form a group of countries to work together against these pirates, but not all countries agreed.

United States pays tribute to Algiers

The U.S. negotiated with Algiers and agreed to pay large amounts of money for peace and the release of captured sailors. In 1795, the U.S. paid over $600,000 and promised yearly gifts to keep the peace.

First Barbary War (1801–1805)

Main article: First Barbary War

When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, he stopped paying the large amounts demanded by Algiers. He sent a U.S. naval fleet to the area. One American ship, the Philadelphia, got stuck near Tripoli's harbor and was captured. Later, American forces destroyed the ship to keep it from being used by the enemy.

A peace treaty was signed in 1805, where the U.S. paid ransom for its captured sailors and agreed to continue giving gifts to Algiers.

Second Barbary war

Main article: Second Barbary War

In 1815, relations between the U.S. and Algiers worsened when Algiers demanded more money each year. The U.S. sent Commodore Stephen Decatur to fight, leading to battles that ended with Algiers agreeing to peace and paying the U.S. compensation.

Effect in United States

See also: Original six frigates of the United States Navy

When the United States won against pirates in the early 1800s, supporters of the Democratic-Republicans pointed out that their leaders refused to pay the pirates to stop. They said this was better than the Federalist leaders before them, who had promised to defend the country but still let pirates attack ships. From 1796 to 1797, French pirates took over 316 ships from the United States. To help protect its ships, the United States built three important ships called frigates: USS United States, USS Constitution, and USS Constellation.