The current war with Iran isn't far in reason from the first war the new United States engaged in, a 7th century ideology...
en.wikipedia.org
"The
Barbary Wars were a series of two wars fought by the
United States,
Sweden, and the
Kingdom of Sicily against the
Barbary states (including
Tunis,
Algiers, and
Tripoli) and Morocco of
North Africa in the early 19th century. Sweden had been at war with the
Tripolitans since 1800 and was joined by the newly independent United States. The
First Barbary War extended from 10 May 1801 to 10 June 1805, with the
Second Barbary War lasting only three days, ending on 19 June 1815. The Barbary Wars were the first major American wars fought entirely outside the
New World, and in the
Arab World.
The wars were largely a reaction to
piracy by the Barbary states. Since the 16th century, North African pirates had captured ships and even raided European coastal areas across the
Mediterranean Sea. Originally starting out with the goal of capturing individuals for the domestic North African slave trade, the focus later shifted to kidnapping for ransom. By the 19th century, pirate activity had declined, but Barbary pirates continued to demand tribute from American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean. Refusal to pay would result in the capture of American ships and goods, and often the enslavement or ransoming of crew members.
After
Thomas Jefferson became president of the U.S. in March 1801, he sent a
U.S. Navy fleet to the Mediterranean to combat the Barbary pirates. The fleet bombarded numerous fortified cities in present-day Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria, ultimately extracting concessions of
safe conduct from the Barbary states and ending the first war.
During the
War of 1812, with the encouragement of the
United Kingdom, the Barbary corsairs resumed their attacks on American vessels. Following the conclusion of the War of 1812 and America's peace with Britain,
James Madison, Jefferson's successor, directed military forces against the Barbary states in the Second Barbary War. Lasting only three days, the second conflict ended the need for further
tribute from the United States, granted the U.S. full shipping rights in the Mediterranean Sea, and significantly reduced incidents of piracy in the region."
Semper Fi - "To the shores of Tripoli"
Exactly 237 years ago today, on March 28, 1786, two of America's founding fathers documented the United States' first exposure to Islamic jihad in an important letter to Congress. One year earlier, in 1785, Muslim pirates from North Africa, or
meforum.org
The First Barbary War was the first overseas war conducted by the United States.
www.americanhistorycentral.com
The Barbary Wars began in 1801 when Jefferson and the Barbary pirates had a confrontation about activity in the Mediterranean. Read about the Barbary Wars.
history.howstuffworks.com
DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.
duckduckgo.com
Jefferson's Inquiry on American Slavery by Barbary Pirates
Context of the Inquiry
Thomas Jefferson, during his time as the
U.S. ambassador to France in 1786, confronted the issue of American ships being attacked by
Barbary pirates. These pirates, operating from North African states, captured American sailors and enslaved them.
The Response from the Barbary States
When
Jefferson asked the ambassador from Tripoli why they enslaved Americans, he received a direct answer rooted in religious justification. The ambassador stated that it was
"founded on the Laws of their Prophet," indicating that their actions were based on interpretations of the Quran. This response highlighted the belief that nations not acknowledging their authority were considered sinners,
justifying their right to wage war and enslave captives.
Implications of Jefferson's Encounter
Jefferson's inquiry and the subsequent response underscored the complex relationship between the United States and the Barbary states. It also marked the beginning of
America's struggle against piracy and the need to protect its shipping interests, leading to military actions in the early 19th century.
