A group known as the Barbary Pirates operated along the coast of North Africa, terrorizing any nation that dared to send ships near those coasts. Several years before the United States became an independent country, these pirates’ bullied nations, which were for the most part, European, who’s only way to stop them was through paying tributes to the pirates. The United States had been previously been protected by the British Navy, now independent in 1776, they too, paid tributes, that is, until Thomas Jefferson was elected president. Thomas Jefferson did not like having to pay tribute to the pirates. Because of this he used his unrestrained power to halt The United States from paying tribute and a war began between the nation and the pirates
