The Barbary War began in 1801, and it lasted until 1805. The war was between the newly formed United States of America, and Tripoli. Tripoli was made up of four Barbary states, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya. It began during Thomas Jefferson’s first year as president, American ships were being taken by the pirates and held for ransom, along with their crew. The pirates had been taking merchant ships and their crews, and holding them for ransom for nearly 400 years. Jefferson said that he was “absolutely suspended between indignation and impotence”. Jefferson believed that they had to punish the pirates. “Weakness provokes injury and insult, while a condition to punish it open prevents it. This reasoning leads to the necessity of some
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There was the burning of the Philadelphia. The Philadelphia was an American ship that had been captured by the pirates along with its crew in 1803. At this time, Americans were shocked, because it showed how America was not as strong as they thought it was. The capture of the Philadelphia was an important event, but the burning of it was even more so. The Americans’ plan was to destroy the ship so that the pirates could not use it, so they disguised the one of their ships as a local civilian trading ship so they could easily get into Tripoli. In February 1804, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur and some U.S. sailors boarded the Philadelphia and destroyed it. This event is a major one because it led to a boost of morale in the Americans, which led to more attacks on Tripoli, and that ultimately led to the surrender and a new treaty. Tripoli signed a treaty on June 4, 1805. In the treaty it required no further payment payment to be made to Tripoli. American ships no longer faced any threats from Barbary. In 1784, Thomas Jefferson said, “Would it not be better to offer them an equal treaty. If they refuse, why not go to war with them?” This quote from him showed the potential that America had. That they did not have to be scared of pirates. At the time of Jefferson’s …show more content…
The war was caused by the pirates’ ignoring of the treaties that had been set up, because the Pirates wanted more money from America, disregarding the treaty. America’s reaction to being forced to give more money or go to war. The war overall led to success for America, and the downfall of the Pirates. The treaties that had been set up in order to prevent a war had been ignored by The leader of Tripoli. By forcing the Americans to give him more money, he had broke the treaties, and basically ignited a war. President Jefferson did not like the idea of paying them money in the first place, so to demand more was not going to work. After the demanding of more payment, it was very likely that the two countries would go to war, because of their views on the matter. America gained a lot of confidence after winning the war. They showed Barbary, and other countries that they were a force to be reckoned with. Alternatively, the pirates shrunk after their defeat. Their dynasty slowly withered away, while Americas grew
There was the burning of the Philadelphia. The Philadelphia was an American ship that had been captured by the pirates along with its crew in 1803. At this time, Americans were shocked, because it showed how America was not as strong as they thought it was. The capture of the Philadelphia was an important event, but the burning of it was even more so. The Americans’ plan was to destroy the ship so that the pirates could not use it, so they disguised the one of their ships as a local civilian trading ship so they could easily get into Tripoli. In February 1804, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur and some U.S. sailors boarded the Philadelphia and destroyed it. This event is a major one because it led to a boost of morale in the Americans, which led to more attacks on Tripoli, and that ultimately led to the surrender and a new treaty. Tripoli signed a treaty on June 4, 1805. In the treaty it required no further payment payment to be made to Tripoli. American ships no longer faced any threats from Barbary. In 1784, Thomas Jefferson said, “Would it not be better to offer them an equal treaty. If they refuse, why not go to war with them?” This quote from him showed the potential that America had. That they did not have to be scared of pirates. At the time of Jefferson’s …show more content…
The war was caused by the pirates’ ignoring of the treaties that had been set up, because the Pirates wanted more money from America, disregarding the treaty. America’s reaction to being forced to give more money or go to war. The war overall led to success for America, and the downfall of the Pirates. The treaties that had been set up in order to prevent a war had been ignored by The leader of Tripoli. By forcing the Americans to give him more money, he had broke the treaties, and basically ignited a war. President Jefferson did not like the idea of paying them money in the first place, so to demand more was not going to work. After the demanding of more payment, it was very likely that the two countries would go to war, because of their views on the matter. America gained a lot of confidence after winning the war. They showed Barbary, and other countries that they were a force to be reckoned with. Alternatively, the pirates shrunk after their defeat. Their dynasty slowly withered away, while Americas grew