Proposals for concerted operation among the powers at war with the Pyratical states of Barbary
"Proposals for concerted operation among the powers at war with the Pyratical states of Barbary" was the title of an
Background
Pirates operating from North Africa, with the consent of the
Proposal
Under Jefferson's proposal, each state party that entered the alliance would contribute at least one
Response
According to Jefferson's autobiography, Portugal, Naples, Venice, the Two Sicilies, France, Malta, Sweden, and Denmark all responded favorably to the proposal, while Spain and Britain were "doubtful" on the question.[4] Congress, however, expressed opposition to the idea, possibly as a result of lobbying by John Adams and John Jay, and the matter ultimately died.[5]
Depredations against American and European shipping increased in severity in the following years, as did the size of the tributes the rulers of the Barbary states demanded. In June 1800, Sweden and Denmark approached the United States with the idea of a tri-national naval flotilla to escort Swedish, Danish, and American ships during transits of the Mediterranean.[3] President of the United States John Adams rejected the proposal, preferring instead to continue paying tributes. The following year, upon Jefferson's ascension to the presidency, American policy changed and the United States went to war against Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis in the First Barbary War.[3]
See also
- Barbary Wars
- Collective security
- History of the United States (1776–1789)
- Hostis humani generis
- NATO
References
- ^ Roberts, Priscilla H. and Richard S. Roberts, Thomas Barclay 1728–1793: Consul in France, Diplomat in Barbary, Lehigh University Press, 2008, pp. 206–223.
- ISBN 978-9004165328.
- ^ JSTOR 3124419.
- ^ S2CID 181689611.
- ^ "Editorial Note: Jefferson's Proposed Concert of Powers against the Barbary States". archives.gov. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
External links
- Original text (in English) & (in French)