Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli pirates : the forgotten war that changed American history Cover Image

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Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli pirates : the forgotten war that changed American history / Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger.

Kilmeade, Brian, (author.). Yaeger, Don, (author.).

Summary:

This is the little-known story of how a newly independent nation was challenged by four Muslim powers and what happened when America's third president decided to stand up to intimidation. When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, America faced a crisis. The new nation was deeply in debt and needed its economy to grow quickly, but its merchant ships were under attack. Pirates from North Africa's Barbary coast routinely captured American sailors and held them as slaves, demanding ransom and tribute payments far beyond what the new country could afford. Over the previous fifteen years, as a diplomat and then as secretary of state, Jefferson had tried to work with the Barbary states (Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, and Morocco). Unfortunately, he found it impossible to negotiate with people who believed their religion justified the plunder and enslavement of non-Muslims. These rogue states would show no mercy -- at least not while easy money could be made by extorting America, France, England, and other powers. So President Jefferson decided to move beyond diplomacy. He sent the U.S. Navy's new warships and a detachment of marines to blockade Tripoli -- launching the Barbary Wars and beginning America's journey toward future superpower status.

Item details

ISBN: 9781591848066
ISBN: 1591848067
ISBN: 9780143129431
ISBN: 0143129430
ISBN: 9780147542793
Physical Description: xvi, 238 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm
Publisher: New York, New York : Sentinel, [2015]

Contents / Notes

General Note:	Maps on lining papers.
Bibliography, etc. Note:	Includes bibliographical references and index.
Formatted Contents Note:	Prologue: Unprepared and unprotected -- Americans abroad -- Secretary Jefferson -- The humiliation of the USS George Washington -- Jefferson takes charge -- A flagpole falls -- The first flotilla -- Skirmish at sea -- Patience wears thin -- The doldrums of summer -- The omens of October -- The Philadelphia disaster -- By the cover of darkness -- The Battle of Tripoli -- Opening a new front -- Win the desert or die in the desert -- Endgame -- Fair winds and following seas.
Study Program Information Note:	AR MG+ 9.1 10.0 189096.