Little Known Facts about the First Barbary War
By David Smethurst
Journal Article | Jan 20 2017 - 6:12pm
Little Known Facts about the First Barbary War
David Smethurst
In 1800, the United States was threatened by the Barbary States of Morocco, Tripoli, Algiers, and Tunis. These states, located on the shore of North Africa, had for centuries demanded an annual tribute to allow Christian vessels to trade unmolested in the Mediterranean. Since the young nation was no longer covered by the annual tribute paid by Britain, the United States signed peace treaties with each of the states, and grudgingly agreed to pay annual tributes. Four consuls were also appointed to maintain the fragile peace. One of them was William Eaton, a 34-year-old soldier diplomat, who was appointed consul to Tunis.
In 1801, Tripoli declared war on the United States. Thomas Jefferson responded by sending the U.S. Navy and fledgling U.S. Marine Corp to fight the Barbary Pirates. The war dragged on for four years until 1804, when Jefferson decided to break the stalemate with a bold stroke: He ordered General William Eaton to Egypt where he was instructed to raise an army and march across the desert to seize the pirate fortress of Derna.
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http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/little-known-facts-about-the-first-barbary-war
