Haverhill Public Library

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli pirates, the war that changed American history, Brian Kilmeade & Don Yaeger

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 151-153) and index

mapsillustrations

index present

Ages 10 up

Middle grades

non fiction

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli pirates

bibliography

1110442817

Brian Kilmeade & Don Yaeger

the war that changed American history

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

Cast of characters -- Prologue: it was a sight he would never forget -- Part one. 1783: wealth travels by sea -- Centuries-old practice -- For Jefferson, the issue is personal -- The two ambassadors -- Jefferson and Adams disagree -- Leaders for a new nation -- Jefferson builds a navy -- Paying for peace -- Part two. Jefferson takes charge -- War -- The first flotilla -- To Algiers and Tunis -- To Tripoli -- The first shots of the war -- The news reachers America -- Richard Dale returns home -- A new plan is developing -- An act of protection -- The wrong man -- Time for a man of action -- A show of force at Morocco -- The fate of the USS Philadelphia -- Prisoners -- A spy within the walls -- Part three. The Hamet Operation -- Opening a new front -- Finding Hamet -- At the city gates -- The other front -- Stunned -- An incomplete victory -- The legacy -- Appendixes. The Barbary coast -- Frigates and galleys -- Weapons -- U.S. Marine Corps -- U.S. Navy -- Bainbridge Codes -- Where to see nineteenth-century ships today -- Visit Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello -- Timeline

juvenile