The Barbary Pirates

1. The Barbary Pirates

2. The Barbary Coast • Consisted of four states: Morocco, Tripoli, Tunis, and Algieria • Established by Barbarossa in the 16th century • Pledged the states to the Ottoman Empire

3. Corsairs • The Barbary Corsairs were privateers who had been operating out of the Ottoman Empire since the Crusades • The leading Corsairs were Saracens • Muslims who preyed upon Christians • Operated out of several infamous ports including Algiers, Sale, Tripoli, and Tunis • Favored galleys that were fast and maneuverable in shallow water • Used terror tactics to force merchant vessels to surrender

4. Importance • As Muslims, they were sworn to oppose Christians • Were created during the Crusades • Took slaves rather than killed them • Those who converted to Islam were treated as equals and avoided slavery

5. Protection Money • The Barbary States demanded annual tribute from seafaring nations (tribute allowed their ships to sail unmolested across the Barbary Coast and to trade in African ports) • By the 18th Century, most of the European powers paid tribute routinely • After 1783, America was no longer under protection from the pirates (through relationship to Britain) • In the late 18th century, the U.S. gov’t agreed to pay tribute to each of the pirate states

6. The Great Debate • Adams and Jefferson disagreed about how to handle the Corsairs • Adams strongly favored paying off the pirates • Jefferson vehemently disagreed

7. The First Barbary War • In May 1801, both sides declared war • An American squadron chased the Corsairs back into the Mediterranean • The squadron accomplished little: • An unsuccessful blockade was enacted, with help from Sweden • Encouraged Sweden’s active participation, mutual benefit • Let the pirates know America would not tolerate them any longer • America tried numerous ineffective assaults over the course of the next few years

8. The Philadelphia • In 1803, the American Frigate the Philadelphia pursued an enemy into an uncharted reef • The Philadelphia caught on a sandbar and was forced to an embarrassing surrender • American Commodore Edwin Preble was forced to decide the best course of action • He ordered a raid, and Lieutenant Stephen Decatur successfully carried it out • This was the most effective victory by the Americans to date in the war

9. A New Course of Action • The United States opted to pit the Arabs against themselves • Yusuf Karamanli was the Bashaw of Tripoli, but his brother, Hamet, was the rightful owner to the throne • Hamet was convinced by the Americans to overthrow Yusuf • American marines and Hamet’s ragtag army marched hundreds of miles across the desert from Egypt • They successfully seized the city of Derna • Victory! Yusuf was compelled to sign a peace treaty

10. War’s End? • Peace was negotiated, though Yusuf was never overthrown • The return of American prisoners was guaranteed • Overall, not much really changed • Only Tripoli made an agreement • The other Barbary States weren’t bound by terms • American vessels traded freely for about the next decade, until incidents with Algiers flared

11. Importance • The Barbary Wars prompted the U.S. to build a navy • The wars united the American armed forces (people fought as marines rather than Georgians and New Yorkers) • Signaled the weakened status of the Barbary States • Proved that America could execute a war far from home (first real test of American military power) • Provided valuable military training • Made the Americans overconfident in their abilities--War of 1812

12. The Second Barbary War • During the War of 1812, the pirate states increased their attacks on American shipping • Ended swiftly (the American navy was much more seasoned after the war of 1812) • Ended all tribute payments by the United States to pirate states • By 1830 most European nations had followed suit

13. Importance • Tribute payments stopped because: • Britain and Holland followed America’s lead and bombarded the Algerian fleets and fortifications • French colonialism challenged American and Dutch activity • Italy overthrew the Bashaw of Tripoli and created Libya • 19th century Imperial colonialism put an end to the piracy • America’s victories against the pirates set the stage for this colonialism