USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -By 1794, the pirates were holding dozens of US citizens for ransom. Thomas Jefferson, who was then President George Washington’s Secretary of State, advised Congress to declare war on the pirates. Congress did not heed his advice. Washington sent diplomats to negotiate for the prisoners’ release, but with no success.

Detailed explanation-2: -How did Jefferson’s policy towards the Barbary pirates differ from that of President Adams? Jefferson refused to pay the pirates anything. What was an unintended consequence of the Embargo Act of 1807?

Detailed explanation-3: -Jefferson dealt with two major challenges to US authority: piracy along the Barbary Coast of North Africa, and British impressment, which resulted in Jefferson instating a mass embargo of European goods, the Embargo Act of 1807.

Detailed explanation-4: -The combination of a strong American naval blockade and an overland expedition from Egypt finally brought the war to a close, with a treaty of peace (June 4, 1805) favourable to the United States. The other Barbary rulers, though considerably chastened, continued to receive some tribute until 1816.