The Barbary PiratesCreated by Kurt Brautigam

The Barbary Pirates, also known as the Barbary Corsairs, were pirates in the Mediterranean Sea who controlled the Barbary Coast. The pirates would rob ships and keep the people for ransom.

Barbary Coast

The Barbary Pirates started in 9th century and sold over 800,000

people into slavery.

In the late 1700’s, the U.S sent the ship, The Maria, to the Gibraltar straight to trade. The ship was attacked by the Barbary Pirates and the crew of the ship are sold into slavery.

The Maria

In 1794, the U.S. creates the U.S. Navy and tries to make a treaty with the Barbary Pirates. The pirates threaten the U.S. that if they don’t give more money to them, they will declare war.

Thomas Jefferson, the U.S. president, talks to James Madison, the secretary of defense, about the pirates. Jefferson decides to send the Navy to fight the Barbary Pirates.

James MadisonSecretary of Defense

Thomas Jefferson

President of the U.S.

Jefferson sent four ships into the Mediterranean Sea. On August 3, 1803, the Enterprise finds one of the pirates ships, The Tripoli. The pirates don’t know it’s the U.S. because they put up a British flag as a trick.

When The Enterprise got close enough to The Tripoli, the U.S. raised the American Flag and started shooting at The Tripoli. After 3 hours, the U.S Navy won against the Barbary Pirates.

3 Hours

A few months later, The Philadelphia was chasing a Tripolian ship when The Philadelphia got stuck on some rocks and the pirates took 307 men hostage and held them for ransom.

Jefferson decides to send 74 men to destroy the ship. The men caught the ship on fire, leaving the boat destroyed.

Fighting the Barbary Pirates showed the U.S. needed a permanent navy. The U.S. Navy was established in 1797 officially.

5 Most Important Facts

1. The Pirates took over the Maria and sold the sailors into slavery.

2. The pirates threatened 6 months of war if the U.S. did not give them more money.

3. The Barbary Pirates broke the treaty with the U.S.

4.The Pirates started in the 9th century and ended in the 1830’s.

5. The Barbary Pirates actually helped the U.S. create a navy.