Yusuf Karamanli, Pasha of Tripolitania, present day Libya, signed a treaty ending hostilities between his nation and the United States of America on June 10, 1805.
Ever since 1783, when the Treaty of Paris was signed, American shipping had been at the mercy of the Barbary pirates.
Barbary pirates and crew from the North African Ottoman provinces of Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli and the independent Sultanate of Morocco were the curse of the Mediterranean. They captured merchant ships and held hostage the crew for ransom. The goods stolen provided the rulers of the nations wealth and power. It is believed that around 1.25 million Europeans were captured by pirates and sold as slaves between the 16 and 19 centuries.
At the end of the American Revolutionary War in on September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed. The pirates now began to attack American merchant ships as they were no longer under the protection of Great Britain.
On October 11, 1784, the first merchant vessel was seized by Moroccan pirates. The Spanish government negotiated the freedom of the captured ship and crew. They advised the U.S. to offer tribute and prevent further attacks.
Peace talksThe U.S. Minister to France, Thomas Jefferson, sent envoys to Morocco and Algiers to purchase treaties and the freedom of the captured sailors held by Algiers. Morocco became the first Barbary Coast state to sign a treaty with the U.S. ending all Moroccan piracy against American shipping.
But, diplomatic action with Algiers wasn’t so successful. Algeria captured an American schooner Maria and a week later, Dauphin. All four Barbary Coast states demanded $660,000 each. But, the envoys were given only a budget of $40,000. Diplomatic talks did not make headway and the crew remained in captivity for over a decade. They were soon joined by crews of other ships captured by the Barbary states. In 1795, Algeria agreed to release 115 American sailors for one million dollars. This was one sixth of the entire U.S. budget!
The continuing demand for tribute led to the formation of the United States Department of the Navy to prevent further attacks on American shipping and demands for large tributes.
The imprisoned sailors were forced into slavery and their conditions were horrid. When the U.S. got to hear of the treatment meted out to them they pushed for direct government action to stop the piracy against their ships.
In March 1786, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams went to London to negotiate with Tripoli’s envoy. The talks failed and due to various circumstances the U.S. paid Algiers up to one million USD over the next 15 years to ensure safe passage of their ships.
In 1794, the American Navy was recommissioned and they became more powerful. When Jefferson became President in 1801, the Bashaw of Tripoli demanded $225,000 from the new administration. When it was refused the Bashaw declared war. A blockade against Barbary posts was set up. There were riots and attacks in Tripoli. There was also a threat that his deposed older brother would be made ruler. Finally, the Bashaw signed a treaty ending hostilities in June 1805. As per the agreement, a ransom sum of $600,000 was to be paid.
