Barbary Wars (1801-05) and (1815)

The Barbary Wars were a series of conflicts between the United States and the Barbary States of North Africa, which at that time included Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. The wars arose out of tensions over the practices of piracy and extortion of the Barbary States, which had been a problem for centuries. The conflict first erupted in 1801, when the Barbary states began to demand tribute payments from the United States. In order to end the practice of extortion, the Americans declared war on the Barbary States and a series of naval and ground operations ensued. After hard-fought victories, the United States was able to obtain treaties from the Barbary powers in 1805 that established peace. Unfortunately, the peace was short-lived. In 1815, the Barbary States resumed their demands for tribute and another war was declared. The Americans were again successful in negotiating treaties that ended the hostilities and their demand for tribute payments. The second War marked the end of conflict between the United States and the Barbary States.