Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American History

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American History

Name: Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American History
Brand: Sentinel
SKU: 9780143129431
Price: 10.71 USD
Availability: InStock

Item# 9780143129431

$10.71

When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, America faced significant debt and attacks on its economy and dignity. Pirates from North Africa's Barbary Coast frequently captured American merchant ships, holding... Read more

When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, America faced significant debt and attacks on its economy and dignity. Pirates from North Africa's Barbary Coast frequently captured American merchant ships, holding sailors as slaves and demanding large ransom and tribute payments. Negotiation with the four Muslim powers proved futile, so Jefferson took action by sending the U.S. Navy and Marines to blockade Tripoli. This marked the beginning of the Barbary Wars and set America's course towards becoming a future superpower. Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates is a captivating account of this forgotten war that shaped American history, highlighting bravery and battles on the high seas.

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Description

When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, America was deeply in debt with its economy and dignity under attack. Pirates from North Africa's Barbary Coast routinely captured American merchant ships and held the sailors as slaves, demanding ransom and tribute payments far beyond what the new country could afford.

For fifteen years, America had tried to work with the four Muslim powers (Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, and Morocco) driving the piracy, but negotiation proved impossible. Realizing it was time to stand up to the intimidation, Jefferson decided to move beyond diplomacy. He sent the U.S. Navy and Marines to blockade Tripoli, launching the Barbary Wars and beginning America's journey toward future superpower status.

Few today remember these men and other heroes who inspired the Marine Corps hymn: From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli, we fight our country's battles in the air, on land, and at sea. Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates recaptures this forgotten war that changed American history with a real-life drama of intrigue, bravery, and battle on the high seas.