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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"