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American–Algerian War (1785–1795): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|1785–1795 conflict between Algiers and Americathe United States}}
 
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Algerian-AmericanAmerican–Algerian War (1785–1795)
| image = File:BainbridgeTribute.jpg
| image_size = 300px300
| caption = Captain [[William Bainbridge]] paying tribute to the [[List of governors and rulers of the Regency of Algiers|Dey of Algiers,]] in 1800
| date = 1785–1795
| place = [[Mediterranean Sea]] and [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| result = Algerian victory
* AmericaUnited States agrees to pay an annual tribute of $21,600 to Algiers<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/barbary-wars|title=Milestones: 1801–1829 |website=Office of the Historian, State Department, United States}}</ref><ref>{{cite book▼
*Establishment of the [[American navy]] through the [[Naval Act of 1794]]
▲* America pay an annual tribute of $21,600<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/barbary-wars|title=Milestones: 1801–1829 |website=Office of the Historian, State Department, United States}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
|editor=David Hunter Miller
|title=Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America
Line 17 ⟶ 15:
|year=1931
|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|pages=275, 303}}</ref>
* Establishment of the [[United States Navy]]
*$1&nbsp;million offered to the Dey
| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Algiers.jpg}} [[Ottoman Algeria|Regency of Algiers]]
| combatant2 = {{flaguflagcountry|United States|1795}}
| commander1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Algiers.jpg}} [[Baba Mohammed ben-Osman|Muhammad V]] <br /> {{flagicon image|Flag of Algiers.jpg}} [[Raïs Hamidou]]
| commander2 = {{flagiconflagd|United imageStates|Betsy_Ross_flag.svg1795}} [[George Washington]] <br /> {{flagiconflagd|United imageStates|Betsy_Ross_flag.svg1795}} [[Thomas Jefferson]]
| strength1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of =Algiers.jpg}} Unknown
| strength2 = {{flagd|United =States|1795}} Unknown
| casualties1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of =Algiers.jpg}} Unknown
| casualties2 = {{flagd|United States|1795}} 180+ captured <br =/>{{flagd|United States|1795}} 1 brig captured <br />{{flagd|United States|1795}} 53 [[merchant ships]] captured<ref name="auto">{{cite book |title=Captives and Countrymen – Barbary Slavery and the American Public, 1785 1816|author=Lawrence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0RPiWj7pGvgC&dq=algerian+ship+captured+american+ship&pg=PA15|year=2009|isbn=978-0801891397|pages=15–21|publisher=JHU Press }}</ref><br>2 [[Watercraft|vessels]]<ref name="auto"/><br>1 [[brig]]<ref name="auto"/><br>130 captive (83 released later)
}}
 
The '''Algerian–American warWar''' tookwas placea between[[Declaration 1785of andwar|state 1795of betweenconflict]] thewhich freshlyexisted independentbetween Unitedthe States[[Regency of AmericaAlgiers]] and the [[RegencyUnited of AlgiersStates]] whichthat beganlasted attackingfrom American1785 shipmentsto 1795. OneOccurring ofafter the reasonsU.S. forbecame theindependent warfrom was athe [[British sabotageEmpire]] effortsas againsta theresult Americans,of whomthe informed[[American theRevolutionary AlgeriansWar]], ofAlgiers thedeclared vulnerabilitywar ofon the AmericanUnited ships,States andafter mayrealizing havethat hired or supported theAmerican [[Barbarymerchant piratesship]]ping operatingwas outno longer under the protection of the Algerian[[Royal portsNavy]].
 
[[Barbary pirates]] operating out of Algiers captured 53 U.S. merchant ships and 1 brig along with 180 American sailors, 83 of whom were subsequently ransomed back by the [[Federal government of the United States|United States government]]. Since the [[Continental Navy]] had been disbanded in 1783, the U.S. had no [[navy]] to protect American shipping, and was forced to sue for peace with Algiers in 1795, agreeing to pay an annual tribute of $21,600. The war led to the [[United States Congress]] to pass the [[Naval Act of 1794]], which created the [[United States Navy]].
 
==Background==
During this time, state-sponsored piracy and hostage ransoming were common practices. [[European nations]] even employed [[privateers]] and participated in the [[transatlantic slave trade]]. Britain and France supported the [[Barbary States]] piracy policy, benefiting their Mediterranean trade.
 
BeforeBeginning independencein the [[early modern period]], [[AmericanBarbary colonistspirates]] wereoperating out of the [[Barbary Coast]] targeted Christian European merchant shipping, capturing and frequently enslaving their crews as part of the [[Barbary slave trade]]. Before independence, American merchant shipping was protected by the [[BritishRoyal Navy]]. But after the United States declared independence, British diplomats informed the [[Barbary States]] that U.S. ships were vulnerableno longer under their protection and in 1785, [[Algiers]] declared war on the United States.<ref>{{cite book|title=National Security and Core Values in American History|author= William O.|year=2009|page=31|publisher= Cambridge University Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cED70_yaBwQC&dq=in+1785,+Algiers+declared+war+on+the+United+States.%5B1%5D&pg=PA31|isbn=9780521518598}}</ref>
 
==War==
In 1785, [[Ottoman Algeria|Algiers]], led by [[Baba Mohammed ben-Osman|Dey Muhammad]], declared war on the United States and captured American ships. The financially struggling Confederation Government couldn't afford a navy or the tribute needed for protection.
Conversely, negotiations with [[Cherifian Empire|Morocco]] went smoothly after initial tensions. Morocco's Sultan Sidi Muhammad had seized a US [[merchant ship]] in 1784 but later opted for peaceful trade. The US successfully formed a treaty with Morocco in 1786, yet couldn't satisfy [[Ottoman Algeria|Algiers]] financially.
[[Thomas Jefferson]], then [[Minister (diplomacy)|U.S. Minister]] to [[Kingdom of France|France]], tried to assemble a coalition against [[Algiers]] but failed.<ref>{{cite book|title=Algérie : passé,présent et devenir|author= R. Ainad Tabet|year=1990|publisher= FeniXX réédition numérique|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DtVCEAAAQBAJ&dq=et+futur+troisi%C3%A8me+Pr%C3%A9sident+des+U.S.A.,+Thomas+Jefferson,+a+sollicit%C3%A9,+lui,+l%27Europe+tout+enti%C3%A8re,+particuli%C3%A8rement+Vergennes,+ministre+des+Affaires+%C3%89tang%C3%A8res+de+Louis+XVI,+auquel+il+%C3%A9crivit+en+mars+1785,+sugg%C3%A9rant,+avec+insistance,+une+action+commune+pour+%C2%AB+une+guerre+contre+Alger%C2%BB+(%C2%AB+in+making+war+upon+Algiers+%C2%BB,+Irvin,+ibid.,+p.+48).++Puis+Jefferson+%C3%A9largit+sa+campagne+%C3%A0+toute+l%27Europe+pour+une+exp%C3%A9dition+contre+les+Alg%C3%A9riens+une+fois+pour+toutes.+Le+grand+projet+de+Jefferson+%C3%A9tait+le+blocus+perp%C3%A9tuel+d%27Alger+par+une+flotte+internationale%C2%BB,+(Dupuy,+Ibid,+p.+31),+%C2%AB+qui+s%27attaquerait+d%27abord&pg=PT50|isbn=9782307234029}}</ref> [[Portuguese Empire|Portugal]]'s conflict with Algiers briefly safeguarded U.S. [[merchant ships]] in the [[Atlantic]].
Line 42 ⟶ 41:
|title=Captives and Countrymen Barbary Slavery and the American Public, 1785–1816|author= Lawrence A.Peskin|year=2009|publisher= JHU Press|isbn=9780801891397|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0RPiWj7pGvgC&dq=In+1793,+a+Portuguese-Algerian+truce&pg=PA103}}</ref>
 
==PeaceAftermath==
 
US diplomats [[Joel Barlow]], Joseph Donaldson, and Richard O'Brien secured treaties with [[Ottoman Algeria|Algiers]], [[Beylik of Tunis|Tunis]], and [[Ottoman Tripolitania|Tripoli]], involving tribute payments.<ref>{{cite book|author= Grégoire Jeanne|title=Histoire des États-Unis|year=1894|page=16|publisher=C.F. Chamerot |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kRkoAAAAYAAJ&dq=Algiers+declared+war+on+England&pg=PA16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Don Philpott|title=Understanding the Department of State|year=2015|page=267|publisher=Bernan Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IMSqCgAAQBAJ&dq=American-Algerian+War+1795&pg=PA267|isbn=9781598887464}}</ref> The [[Algiers]] treaty also released [[sailor|83 American sailors]] out of 130 seamen.<ref>{{cite book|title=Islamic Jihad A Legacy of Forced Conversion, Imperialism, and Slavery|author= M.A.Khan|year=2009|page=342|publisher= iUniverse|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uHNddAz5cfAC&dq=US+diplomats+Joel+Barlow,+Joseph+Donaldson,+and+Richard+O%27Brien+secured+treaties+with+Algiers,+Tunis,+and+Tripoli,+involving+tribute+payments&pg=PA342|isbn=9781440118463}}</ref>▼
US diplomats [[Joel Barlow]], Joseph Donaldson, and Richard O'Brien secured [[Treaty_of_Peace_and_Friendship_between_the_United_States_and_the_Regency_of_Algiers|treaties with
▲US diplomats [[Joel Barlow]], Joseph Donaldson, and Richard O'Brien secured treaties with [[Ottoman Algeria|Algiers]], [[Beylik of Tunis|Tunis]], and [[Ottoman Tripolitania|Tripoli]], involving tribute payments.<ref>{{cite book|author= Grégoire Jeanne|title=Histoire des États-Unis|year=1894|page=16|publisher=C.F. Chamerot |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kRkoAAAAYAAJ&dq=Algiers+declared+war+on+England&pg=PA16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Don Philpott|title=Understanding the Department of State|year=2015|page=267|publisher=Bernan Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IMSqCgAAQBAJ&dq=American-Algerian+War+1795&pg=PA267|isbn=9781598887464}}</ref> The [[Algiers]] treaty also released [[sailor|83 American sailors]] out of 130 seamen.<ref>{{cite book|title=Islamic Jihad A Legacy of Forced Conversion, Imperialism, and Slavery|author= M.A.Khan|year=2009|page=342|publisher= iUniverse|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uHNddAz5cfAC&dq=US+diplomats+Joel+Barlow,+Joseph+Donaldson,+and+Richard+O%27Brien+secured+treaties+with+Algiers,+Tunis,+and+Tripoli,+involving+tribute+payments&pg=PA342|isbn=9781440118463}}</ref>
 
==References==
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{{Barbary Corsairs}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1785]]
[[Category:18th century in Algeriathe Regency of Algiers]]
[[Category:Barbary Wars]]
[[Category:Wars involving the United States]]
[[Category:Wars involving Algeriathe Regency of Algiers]]
[[Category:Algeria–United States relations]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:American-Algerian War (1785-1795)}}
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