First Barbary War

The First Barbary War (1801–1805, also known as the Barbary Coast War or the Tripolitan War) was one of two wars fought between the United States of America and the semiautonomous North African city-states of Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, known collectively as the Barbary States.

Outbreak of war

On Jefferson's inauguration as president in 1801 the pasha of Tripoli demanded $225,000 from the new administration. Putting his long-held beliefs into practice, Jefferson refused the demand. Consequently, in May of 1801, the pasha declared war on the United States, not through any formal written documents, but by cutting down the flagstaff in front of the U.S. Consulate. Morocco, Algiers, and Tunis soon followed their ally.

Related Topics:
1801 - Tripoli

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In response, Jefferson sent a group of frigates to defend American interests in the Mediterranean, and informed Congress. Although Congress never voted on a formal declaration of war, they did authorize the President to instruct the commanders of armed vessels of the United States to seize all vessels and goods of the Bay of Tripoli "and also to cause to be done all such other acts of precaution or hostility as the state of war will justify."

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Algiers and Tunis backed down almost immediately on show of force by the Americans, but Tripoli and Morocco remained committed. The American navy went unchallenged in the sea, and as the question remained undecided Jefferson pressed the issue the following year, with an increase in military force and deployment of many of the navy's best ships to the region throughout 1802. USS Constitution, USS Constellation, USS Philadelphia, USS Chesapeake, USS Argus, USS Syren and USS Intrepid all saw service during the war under the overall command of Commodore Edward Preble. Throughout 1803 Preble set up and maintained a blockade of the Barbary ports and executed a campaign of raids and attacks against the cities' fleets.

Related Topics:
1802 - USS ''Constitution'' - USS ''Constellation'' - USS ''Philadelphia'' - USS ''Chesapeake'' - USS ''Argus'' - USS ''Syren'' - USS ''Intrepid'' - Edward Preble - 1803

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In October of 1803, the fleet of Tripoli was able to capture the Philadelphia intact after the frigate ran aground while patrolling Tripoli harbor. Efforts by the Americans to float the ship while under fire from shore batteries and Tripolitanian naval units were unsuccessful. The ship, its captain, William Bainbridge, and all officers and crew were taken ashore and held as hostages. On February 16, 1804, a small contingent of sailors in a disguised Intrepid and led by the redoubtable Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, Jr., were able to invade the harbor of Tripoli and burn the Philadelphia, denying her use to the enemy. Decatur's bravery in action made him a hero to Americans back home.

Related Topics:
October - 1803 - William Bainbridge - February 16 - 1804 - Stephen Decatur, Jr.

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Preble attacked Tripoli outright on July 14, 1804 in a series of inconclusive battles, including a courageous but unsuccessful attack by the fire ship USS Intrepid under Captain Richard Somers. Intrepid, packed with explosives, was to enter Tripoli harbor and destroy itself and the enemy fleet; it was destroyed, perhaps by enemy guns, perhaps accidentally, before achieving that goal.

Related Topics:
July 14 - 1804 - Fire ship - USS ''Intrepid'' - Richard Somers

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The turning point in the war came with the Battle of Derna, after a remarkably daring overland attack on the Tripolitan city of Derna by a combined force of American marines and Arab, Greek and Berber mercenaries, under the command of ex-consul William Eaton and Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon. This action, memorialized in the Marine Hymn—"to the shores of Tripoli"—gave the American forces a significant advantage.

Related Topics:
Battle of Derna - Derna - Berber - William Eaton - Presley O'Bannon - Marine Hymn

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Wearied of the blockade and raids, and now under threat of a continued advance on to Tripoli proper and a scheme to set up his brother as ruler, the pasha of Tripoli signed a treaty ending hostilities on June 10, 1805. Although the Senate did not approve the treaty until the following year, this effectively ended the First Barbary War.

Related Topics:
June 10 - 1805 - Senate

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