by Rodney Crutchfield

Created on: April 07, 2009   Last Updated: September 17, 2009

The Barbary Wars were two wars fought between the United States and a group of North African states that practiced piracy, which was supported by those states' governments. The Barbary States included Morocco, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli. The wars were fought between 1801- 1805, and 1815-1816.

The practice of piracy by these states had started as early as the Crusades in 1095. Muslim pirates would capture Christian ships, selling the crews into slavery. These pirates were fought first by the Knights Templars and later by their successors, the Knights of Malta. The latter became ineffective when Napoleon conquered the island of Malta. This left the Barbary States free to plunder any nations' ships that did not pay tribute to them for the purpose of peaceful passage through the Mediterranean Sea. Of course, countries with strong navies like Great Britain and France were not bothered by the pirates.

Up until its independence, the United States had been under the protection of Great Britain, and its merchant ships were allowed to sail the Mediterranean unmolested. However, once the United States declared independence, British diplomats were quick to tell the Barbary States that U.S. ships were open to attack. In 1785, Algiers declared war on the U.S., and captured several American merchant ships. The United States, then under a weak confederation, was unable to raise the money to build a navy or pay tribute which would protect U.S. ships.

After the U.S. Constitution was signed and went into effect, the United States became stronger financially, and in 1799 agreed to pay $18,000 per year as tribute to Tripoli. Similar agreements were signed with rulers of Morocco, Algiers, and Tunis.

The United States also became well off enough financially to build a navy. In 1794, in response to seizure of U.S. ships by Algiers, Congress ordered the building of six warships. In 1801, the Pasha of Tripoli, citing late tribute payments, demanded increased tribute. When the United States declined to pay, Tripoli declared war. The U.S. sent naval squadrons into the Mediterranean, to insure safe passage of merchant ships. The slogan for the time became "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute". The U.S. Navy then blockaded Tripoli's coast, bombarded her fortresses, and engaged in bitterly contested gunboat battles.

Lt. Stephen Decatur, on February 16, 1804, led 74 volunteers into Tripoli harbor to burn the captured American frigate, The Philadelphia. The group was successful,

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