Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates
The Forgotten War That Changed American History
Penguin Publishing Group · Print & ebook · October 18, 2016
When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, America was deeply in debt, with its economy and dignity under attack.
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- Who it’s for
- A look at Jefferson-era conflict, where diplomacy, captivity, and naval force meet.
- Themes
- Barbary Wars, Piracy and enslavement, Early American history
- Genres
- Maritime History & Piracy, Presidents & World Leaders, Naval History
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Start with this bookAbout this book
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.
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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 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.
History at Sea
A look at Jefferson-era conflict, where diplomacy, captivity, and naval force meet.
Come here for
- The uneasy overlap of early American statecraft and high-seas conflict
- A forgotten war framed through intrigue, bravery, and battle
Expect
- An account of the Barbary Wars and their place in American history
- Sailors held captive, ransom demands, and the choice to use force
Where it sits
| Presidents & World Leaders | 55% |
|---|---|
| Naval History | 51% |
| Maritime History & Piracy | 34% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Presidents & World Leaders
- U.S. Military History
- 19th-Century America
- Authors
- Brian Kilmeade, Don Yaeger
- Publisher
- Penguin Publishing Group
- Published
- October 18, 2016
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Barbary Wars · Piracy and enslavement · Early American history
- Reading lane
- Presidents & World Leaders