Dilemma TwoDealing with Pirates

By: Hunter Lyman, Nick Dawson, Michael DiMauro Alex Inglis, & Anna Maselek

What was the Dilemma?

● “England had become a den of pirates; France a den of thieves”● Ships were being captured and couldn’t trade with countries● Britain began impressing and kidnapping American sailors● Claimed they were British deserters● Threats came from barbary states (Morocco, Algiers,Tunis,

Tripoli)

Reasons

● Jefferson was becoming stressed with the fact that the U.S. had to remain in neutrality even though American trade ships were being commandeered and looted by the French and the British.● Britain would also began kidnapping sailors and using them in their Royal Navy.● The pirates from the Barbary States would steal and loot American ships.● To stop the pirates and protect American Sailors, Presidents Washington and

Adams paid tribute to the states in return for promised safety of their Sailors.

Effects● 21 sailors were killed/wounded when Leopard open fired● Thousands of unlucky Americans were impressed● Barbary states wanted more and declared war● Jefferson followed policy of neutrality● U.S. had to pay tribute to keep boats safe● Jefferson had to fight a war or pay tribute● Seized ships and held captain and crew for ransom● Jefferson put in an embargo into place to protect ships

What Happened

● Instead of paying tribute, a small fleet was sent to protect merchant ships● After 2 years of war a treaty was signed with Barbary States● Peace was only signed with Tripoli. The other Barbary States

continued to plunder ships.

Key People

● Thomas Jefferson - tried to follow a policy of neutrality; hated paying tribute more than war; his efforts to get France & Britain to leave American ships alone; proposed an embargo when diplomacy failed ● Ruler of Tripoli - demanded tribute from the U.S., and declared war to show he was

serious● The French - stole, Looted, and destroyed American trade ships.● The British - stole, looted, and destroyed American trade ships.● Stephen Decatur - a young naval officer who led a raiding party into the heavily

guarded Tripoli harbor and set the Philadelphia ship afire

Key Places

● Tripoli - demanded that the U.S. pay $3 million in tribute; declared war on the United States.

● Mediterranean Sea - where pirates from Morocco, ALgiers, Tunis, and Tripoli entered on merchant ships

● The Barbary States - a collection of states from North Africa, who threatened American ships with piracy, or robbery at sea

● France & Britain - were at war in 1803; both nations began seizing American ships that were trading with their enemy

Vocabulary

Impressment: Kidnapping American Sailors to serve in the British navy.Embargo: A government order that stops merchant ships from leaving or entering a country’s ports.

Quiz Question #1

Who became a den of pirates, and who became a den of thieves?

The Answer is...

Britain = PiratesFrance = Thieves

Quiz Question #2

Who attacked American trade ships?

The Answer is...

France, Britain, and The Barbary States.

Quiz Question #3

What did Tripoli and the U.S. agree to do after signing a peace treaty?

The Answer is...

Tripoli agreed to stop demanding tribute payments, and the U.S. paid a $60,000 ransom for the crew of the Philadelphia.

Quiz Question #4

What did Britain do to American sailors?

The Answer is...

Impressed, kidnapped, and used them in their Royal Navy.

Quiz Question #5

By the time Jefferson was president, the United States had paid the Barbary states how much money?

The Answer is...

About 2 million dollars

Quiz Question #6

Who put in the Embargo?

The Answer is...

Thomas Jefferson