USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The pirates demanded a payment called a tribute from foreign governments in exchange for the safe passage of its ships in the Mediterranean Sea. If no tribute was paid, the pirates would attack and capture the crews of foreign ships and sell them for a ransom or force them into slavery.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Barbary rulers frequently demanded that nations “renew” their treaties for even greater amounts of tribute. Until a nation agreed to new terms, its ships remained fair game for the pirates. The war fleets of the European powers could easily have defeated the Barbary pirate ships.

Detailed explanation-3: -It was the end of the eighteenth century, and for hundreds of years, pirates from the Islamic countries on the coast of North Africa had controlled the Mediterranean Sea. They plundered and looted ships. They captured sailors, holding them for ransom or selling them into the Ottoman (Turkish) slave trade.

Detailed explanation-4: -The two major European powers, Great Britain and France, found it expedient to encourage the Barbary States’ policy and pay tribute to them, as it allowed their merchant shipping an increased share of the Mediterranean trade, and Barbary leaders chose not to challenge the superior British or French navies.

Detailed explanation-5: -By the 19th century, pirate activity had declined, but Barbary pirates continued to demand tribute from American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean. Refusal to pay would result in the capturing of American ships and goods, and often the enslavement or ransoming of crew members.