In 1801 the Pasha of Tripoli
declared war on the United States. President Jefferson, who was an avid
defender of the proclamation to use the United States Navy for defending American
shores only, dispatched a squadron of naval vessels to the Mediterranean. What
could have provoked such a decision you ask.
Piracy! Barbary Coast Pirates, Pirates
sanctioned by Morocco, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli and, President Jefferson’s
refusal to bend to the demands of them.
The Barbary Pirates would attack
merchant ships take the cargo, crew and occasionally the ship. The crew they
would hold for ransom. When paid the crew would be returned. Most countries
along the Mediterranean would pay an annual tribute and be left unmolested.
While Jefferson was still the United
States minister in France he attempted several times to create a coalition of Mediterranean
States against the act of Piracy. All of his attempts failed. In 1795 the
United States was forced to pay a little over a million dollars in cash, naval
stores, and a frigate to negotiate the release of 115 sailors from the Dey of
Algiers.
Against all opposition Jefferson
held firm to his belief and as he addressed congress in 1801 he said, "To
this state of general peace with which we have been blessed, one only exception
exists. Tripoli, the least considerable of the Barbary States, had come forward
with demands unfounded either in right or in compact, and had permitted itself
to denounce war, on our failure to comply before a given day. The style of the
demand admitted but one answer. I sent a small squadron of frigates into the
Mediterranean. . . ." The show of
determined force by America awed the mighty powers of Algiers and Tunis and they
broke off all alliances with Tripoli. The war on Piracy raged on for four years
Algiers and Morocco refusing to cease the war on America. Strategic bombing of Tripoli
finally forced Morocco out of the war while a more aggressive threat against the
Pasha by replacing him with his brother settled that area. Algiers still demanded
payment of $60,000 for the release of each of the 115 captured sailors in the
proposed treaty. In 1806 with Senatorial consent the ransom was paid. But that
was not the end of the Piracy.
In 1815 Algiers again declared war
on the United States and again the United States Navy was dispatched. Peace was
restored between America and the Barbary Pirates. The other countries along the
Barbary Coast who continued their tribute payments were still subjected to Pirates.
In honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day
on September 19 the Artz Council presents Barbary Artz Pirates.
