Barbary Wars

The Barbary Wars were 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 1800s. These were the first big American wars fought outside the New World, and in the Arab world.

The wars happened because of piracy by the Barbary states. For many years, pirates from North Africa captured ships and raided areas along the Mediterranean Sea. They took people to work as slaves or to ask for money to let them go. By the 1800s, pirate activity had gone down, but the Barbary pirates still asked for tribute from American ships. If the United States said no, American ships and goods could be taken, and the crew could be held for ransom.

After Thomas Jefferson became president of the U.S. in 1801, he sent a U.S. Navy to the Mediterranean to fight the Barbary pirates. The navy attacked many strong cities in parts of Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria today. This led to agreements from the Barbary states, ending the first war. Later, after the War of 1812, the Barbary pirates began attacking American ships again. After that war ended, James Madison, Jefferson’s successor, led forces in the Second Barbary War. This short war stopped the United States from having to pay tribute, gave full shipping rights in the Mediterranean Sea, and made piracy much less common in the area. For the articles examining each war separately, 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 attacked American ships and captured two in July 1785. They asked for large payments to return the ships. The new U.S. government, formed in 1789, started building a navy to protect its ships.

Thomas Jefferson, who became president later, thought the U.S. should fight back instead of paying. He wanted other countries to join together against the pirates, but not all countries agreed.

United States pays tribute to Algiers

The U.S. talked with Algiers and agreed to pay large amounts of money for peace and to free captured sailors. In 1795, the U.S. paid over $600,000 and promised to give gifts every year 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 Algiers demanded. 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 so the enemy could not use it.

A peace treaty was signed in 1805. The U.S. paid ransom for its captured sailors and agreed to keep giving gifts to Algiers.

Second Barbary war

Main article: Second Barbary War

In 1815, relations between the U.S. and Algiers got worse when Algiers asked for more money each year. The U.S. sent Commodore Stephen Decatur to fight. There were battles, and Algiers finally agreed to make peace and paid 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 said their leaders did not 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 many 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.