The Barbary Wars recounts the young United States’ conflicts with the North African states of Tripoli, Tunis and Algiers over piracy, tribute and Mediterranean trade. It follows the First Barbary War, the burning of the captured frigate Philadelphia and operations against Tripoli, then turns to the renewed confrontation after the War of 1812. The book shows how these campaigns tested the new republic’s navy, diplomacy and willingness to project force overseas.
The campaigns forced the United States to decide whether it would continue paying tribute or maintain naval forces capable of protecting commerce independently. Operations against Tripoli also tested cooperation between diplomacy, Marines, sailors and local allies. The later confrontation after 1812 shows the republic returning with greater naval confidence and imposing a settlement that earlier governments had lacked the power to demand.
Saul David
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Peter Ackroyd
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