Transcript Document
The Barbary Coast was the term used by Europeans until the 19th century to refer to the coastal regions of North Africa. The Barbary pirates and slave traders based on the coast attacked ships and coastal settlements in the Mediterranean and captured and traded slaves from Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. The Forgotten Wars • The Barbary Wars were two wars between the United States of America and Barbary States in North Africa in the early 1800’s. At issue was: -The pirates' demand of tribute (A bribe) from the United States for American merchant vessels to sail in the Mediterranean Sea. • The American Navy was sent to attack the pirate cities and win fair passage from their rulers. The USS Enterprise capturing the corsair, Tripoli United States choses to fight! The United States chose to fight the pirates of Barbary, rather than pay tribute, as did all the other nations who traded in the Mediterranean Sea. The eventual victory by the tiny United States Navy broke a pattern of international blackmail and terrorism dating back more than 150 years! “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.“ – Sen. Robert Goodloe Harper Old Ironsides The USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat. Launched in 1797 USS Philadelphia In the first Barbary War the USS Philadelphia was stuck on a sandbar in Tripoli harbor and was captured along with it’s entire crew. The pirates demanded millions for their return. Heroes!!!! Navy Commander Stephen Decatur and about 60 of his men dresses as Arabs and sneaked into Tripoli harbor where they set the Philadelphia on fire so the Tripoli Pirates could not use it. In a second attack on the harbor Decatur and his men fought like action heroes, capturing pirate ships and fighting bravely. Eventually winning the release of the American Prisoners. Decatur was a Navy hero for the next 20 years. He fought in a second war against the pirates as well as the War of 1812. But it was a duel that killed him in 1820. Decatur Illinois is named in his honor William Eaton and the Marines Jefferson assigned William Eaton to lead a small group of Marines and a large party of Mercenaries (Soldiers for hire) to attack Tripoli by land. They crossed 600 miles of desert to achieve their goal. William Eaton was a former ambassador who now called himself “General” In charge of the 7 Marines and 2 Navy soldiers, Pressley O’Bannon became the first American soldier to hoist the American flag over a captured city after Eaton’s army took the city of Derne in Tripoli. The United States Marine Corps actions in these wars led to the line "to the shores of Tripoli" in the opening of the Marine Hymn. Because of the hazards of boarding hostile ships, Marines' uniforms had a leather high collar to protect against cutlass slashes. This led to the nickname Leatherneck for U.S. Marines. U.S. Marine Hymm From the Halls of Montezuma, To the shores of Tripoli; We fight our country's battles In the air, on land, and sea; First to fight for right and freedom And to keep our honor clean: We are proud to claim the title Of United States Marine. Semper Fidelis is Latin for "Always Loyal"