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

[[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]].

 

 

Beginning in the [[early modern period]], [[Barbary pirates]] operating 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 [[Royal Navy]]. But after the United States declared independence, British diplomats informed the [[Barbary States]] that U.S. ships were no 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>