The United States and The Barbary Regencies:A Timely, Mostly Forgotten History

Khary WORLDPEACE AMH 5905 Early American Republic Professor OKane-Lipartito OKaneFall 2011

An Important Legacy The Barbary Wars; Legal Precedent for Invading Haiti? 1st Hostage Crisis 1st Foreign Intervention (U.S. Imperialism?) Impetus for U.S. NAVY & U.S. MARINES Cultural Ironies

A Savage War of Peace? Max Boot, Jeanne J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for Boot, National Security Studies and member of the Council on Foreign Relations, sees the Relations, Barbary Wars as the most important small war during the beginning of the United States Commercial power (late 1700s to the 1890s) which open[ed] up more of the world to western commerce. A concise history of Americas small wars abroad that tries to relate the past to problems confronting the United States today, Boots Savage Wars of Peace sees the Barbary Wars as both punitive and protective conflicts. Archibald Robbins, an American sailor shipwrecked in Africa during the 1815 campaign against Algiers wrote: The mention of Tripoli calls up the proud recollection of the infancy of (New York, Perseus Books the American Navy. It was upon the coast of that Group 2002) country, that Americans began to learn how to conquer upon the sea.

Background/OverviewMilton, Giles. White Gold: The Extraordinary Story of Thomas Pellow and Islams One Million White Slaves. (New York, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2004) Davis, Robert C. Christian Slaves, Muslim Masters (New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2003)

Middle Ages cultural wars between Christianity (Europeans) and Islam (Africans/Asians) Moorish Rule of Southern Europe (Iberia & S. France) Crusades for Control of Holy Land / Inquisitions/ Expulsion of Moors in 1492 Renaissance & Enlightenment in Europe/ State Collapse and Cultural Regression in Africa

slavery both in the Mediterranean and across the Atlantic arose and flourishedat almost exactly the same time (Davis xxiv) Between 1630 and 1640, Algerian and Sale rovers were taking almost as many British subjects every year as the English were taking in their share of the Transatlantic slave trade (Davis 3).

Catalyst for U.S. Barbary privateers began to take North American colonists as early as 1625, the written genre of the Barbary captivity narrative didnt flourish in the United States until the early nineteenth century (1-2). (1As early as 1625rovers had claimed two American ships and escorted them into the Moroccan harbor at Sallee (6). In 1645, according to James Fenimore Cooper, the very first regular naval action involved a fourteen-gun ship fourteenbuilt in Cambridge, Massachusetts [which] sailed for the Canary Islands (7). Joshua Gees Pocketbook was the first American Barbary captivity account in 1680 (6). Cotton Mathers The Glory of Goodness diary entry and sermon claims that the redemption of the captives of Morocco is a testament to Gods mercy (59). *Moroccan rovers seized the Betsey in May 1784, but then quickly freed the crew (8)*. Algerian privateers seized the Maria and the Dauphin in 1785, taking 21 prisoners into slavery (8). By 1793, Algiers had increased the number of U.S. sailors in its bagnios to 119 (8).

Baepler, Paul. White Slaves, African Masters: An Anthology of American Barbary Captivity Narratives. (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1999)

DiplomaticMorocco was the first country whose Efforts with Head-OfHead-Of-State recognized the Barbary sovereignty of the United States in1777. The United States paid close to a million dollars in 1796 for a peace treaty with Algiers and the ransom of captive seaman, and under that treaty it paid Algiers an annual tribute of $24,000 until 1812 (xiv). Peace with Tunis cost $107,000(xiv). 1st Treaty with Tripoli cost $53,000 (xiv).Parker, Richard B. Uncle Sam in Barbary: A Diplomatic History (Gainesville, University Press of Florida 2004)Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Morocco and the United States, negotiated by Thomas Barclay, became official in 1786 after it was signed by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Muhammad III.

another $60,000 in 1805 to ransom some three hundred prisoners followed a protracted effort at naval blockade and bombardment of the town of Tripoli (xv).

Naval Acts of 1790sFrom Raymond G. OConnors Origins of the American Navy. (New York, University Press of America 1994)

Naval Act of 1794- Congressional Bill providing for 6 warships: 4 with 44 1794Guns each and 2 with 36 Guns each (63). Naval Act of 1796- Authorization Bill for the completion of three vessels 1796instead of the six previously authorized(64). Naval Armament Act of 1797- provided for the outfitting and manning of the 1797three frigates under construction(66). April 27th, 1798, authorized the building and acquisition of twelve small armed vessels (66). Navy Department created April 30, 1798 by Presidential signature- John signatureAdams (66) Naval Act of 1798- permitted the President to employ the Navy to capture 1798armed French vessels operating along the [U.S.] coast (67).

George Washington

Presidential Leadership on Barbary Situation

George Washington (1789-1797)- This subject, than which none deserves a more affectionate (1789-1797)zeal, has constantly commanded my best exertions, said President George Washington to Congress, February 28, 1795 in reference to the Barbary situation (Parker xiii). Secures first treaty with Barbary regencies. Pays tribute. John Adams (1797-1801)- Authorizes and executes the Naval Acts. Orders the George (1797-1801)Washington, captained by Bainbridge, to pay tribute but gets humiliated as the ship is taken Washington, over by Algeria for their own use. Pays tribute. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)- Despite his professed goal of maintaining peace, he authorizes (1801-1809)a naval and military expedition, without the authorization of Congress, to the Mediterranean to put down the Barbary threat. Wages war. James Madison (1809-1817)- Ends American tribute to any of the Barbary regencies after he (1809-1817)successfully orders Stephen Decatur to lead two squadrons of U.S. warships to bombard Algiers into submission in 1815. Wages war.John Adams

James Madison

Thomas Jefferson

TRIPOLITAN WAR18011801-1805 Jefferson, rather than paying tribute, took the United States to war against Tripoli in 1801 (Lambert 116-117). 1161st Squadron Commander Richard Dale establishes a blockade of Tripoli in the Fall of 1801 with three frigates and an armed sloop. 2nd Squadron under Commander Richard Morris includes 5 frigates with 180 guns, heads to Tripoli in 1802. 1803, Commodore Edward Preble leads a sevenseven-ship, one-thousand-man squadron into one-thousandthe Mediterranean which ultimately forces Tripolis surrender and acquiescence. William Eaton, leading a force of 10 US Marines and an international cadre of soldiers from the Mediterranean world, leads a land invasion resulting in the capture of Derne in 1805.Whipple, A.B.C. To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines (New York, William Morrow and Company, Inc. 1991)

Lambert, Frank. The Barbary Wars: American Independence in the Atlantic World. (New York, Hill & Wang 2005)

U.S. Naval Power in Action: 1801-1805 1801George Washington - 1st American Man-Of-War in the Mediterranean 1800 President- Flagship in 1st Squadron Philadelphia- Frigate, 1st Squadron Essex- Frigate, 1st Squadron Enterprise- Armed Schooner, 1st Squadron Chesapeake- Frigate, 2nd Squadron New York-Frigate, 2nd Squadron John Adams-Frigate, 2nd Squadron Constitution- Frigate, 3rd Squadron Philadelphia- Frigate, 3rd Squadron *Intrepid- renamed local ketch Constellation- Frigate, 3rd Squadron Congress- Frigate, 3rd Squadron Argus- Frigate, 3rd Squadron Hornet- Frigate, 3rd Squadron Nautilus- Frigate, 3rd Squadron

U.S. War Heroes William Bainbridge, Commander of the USS Philadelphia, ran aground on a reef and was imprisoned/enslaved. Provided critical intelligence in the burning of the Philadelphia by Decatur (top left) Edward Preble, Commodore of the successful 3rd squadron which forced Tripoli to sign an agreement of peace (bottom left)

William Eaton, led 1st foreign U.S. land victory. Led the U.S. Marines founding victory, taking Derne and freeing 300 American slaves. (top right) Stephen Decatur, captained a covert mission resulting in the burning of the captured USS Philadelphia. Led the two squadrons which forced Algerias surrender in 1815 (bottom right)

Decaturs HeroismLord Nelson of the British Royal Navy called Decaturs actions the most bold and daring act of the age (Boot 5).

Youngest man to reach rank of Captain at age 25. As Commander of USS Enterprise, Enterprise, captured Tripolian vessel Mastico and renames it USS Intrepid Led the Intrepid in the daring, legendary raid and burning of the Philadelphia Avenged the death of his brother James Decatur in the Second Attack on Tripoli. Capture the Algerian flagship Mashouda, forcing Algeria to Mashouda, surrender in the Barbary war of 1815

U.S. Marines HymnFrom the Halls of Montezuma, Montezuma, Tripoli; To the shores of Tripoli; We fight our country's battles In the air, on land, and sea; First to fight for right and freedom And to keep our honor clean: We are proud to claim the title Of United States Marine. Our flag's unfurled to every breeze From dawn to setting sun; We have fought in every clime and place Where we could take a gun; In the snow of far-off Northern lands farAnd in sunny tropic scenes; You will find us always on the job The United States Marines. Here's health to you and to our Corps Which we are proud to serve; In many a strife we've fought for life And never lost our nerve; If the Army and the Navy Ever look on Heavens scenes; They will find the streets are guarded By The United States Marines.

Zacks, Richard. The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines and the Secret Mission of 1805. (New York, Harpers Weekly, 2004)

An Ironic Reversal?

A History Coming to an End

A Culture Coming to an End

Even though the breeding activities of male slaves were tightly, even ferociously controlled, the many female European captives who were taken sexually by their masters and the thousands of immigrant renegades all brought a great deal of European blood into local gene pools (Davis 25). By the late 1700s visitors were noting how the inhabitants of Algiers have a rather white complexion, writes Davis quoting J.Billioud in Memoires de lInstitut historique de Provence (Davis 25).

Sexual Slavery

Bibliography1) Baepler, Paul. White Slaves, African Masters: An Anthology of American Barbary Captivity Narratives. (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1999) 2) Boot, Max. The Savage Wars of Peace: Small Wars and the Rise of American Power. (New York, Perseus Books Group, 2002) 3) Davis, Robert C. Christian Slaves, Muslim Masters. (New York, Palgrave Mills, 2003) 4) Kitzen, Michael L. Tripoli and the United States at War. (Jefferson- N.C., McFarland & Company, 1993) 5) Lambert, Frank. The Barbary Wars: American Independence in the Atlantic World. (New York, Hill & Wang 2005) 6) Milton, Giles. White Gold: The Extraordinary Story of Thomas Pellow and Islams One Million White Slaves. (New York, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2004) 7) OConnor, Raymond G. Origins of the American Navy. (New York, University Press of America 1994) 8) Parker, Richard B. Uncle Sam in Barbary: A Diplomatic History. (Gainesville, University Press of Florida 2004) 9) Wheelan, Joseph. Jeffersons War: Americas First War on Terror 1801-1805. (New York, Carroll & Graf edition, 2003) 10)Whipple, A.B.C. To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines (New York, William Morrow and Company, Inc. 1991) 11)Zacks, Richard. The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines and the Secret Mission of 1805. (New York, Harpers Weekly, 2004)