Barbary pirates

Though at least a proportion of them are better described as privateers, the Barbary pirates operated out of Tunis, Tripoli, Algiers, Salè and ports in Morocco, preying on shipping in the western Mediterranean Sea from the time of the Crusades as well as on ships on their way to Asia around Africa until the early 19th century. Their stronghold was along the stretch of northern Africa known as the Barbary Coast (a medieval term for the Maghreb after its Berber inhabitants), although their predation was said to extend as far north as Iceland, and south along West Africa's Atlantic seaboard.

Barbary pirates and the U.S. Navy

When the U.S. became a country it had little in the way of a navy to protect its merchant ships, so in 1784, Congress appropriated $80,000 as tribute, or bribe, to the Barbary states. But continued attacks prompted the building of the United States Navy, including one of America's most famous ships, the USS Constitution, leading to a series of wars along the North African coast, starting in 1801. It was not until 1815 that naval victories ended tribute payments by the U.S., although some European nations continued annual payments until the 1830s.

Related Topics:
1784 - United States Navy - USS ''Constitution'' - 1801 - 1815 - 1830s

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The United States Marine Corps actions in these wars led to the line, "to the shores of Tripoli" in the opening of the "Marine Hymn".

Related Topics:
United States Marine Corps - Tripoli - Marine Hymn

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~