Osprey Essential Histories 66 : The Wars of the Barbary Pirates : To the Shores of Tripoli : The Rise of the US Navy and Marines

The wars against the Barbary pirates not only signalled the determination of the United States to throw off its tributary status, liberate its citizens from slavery in North Africa, reassert its right to trade freely upon the seas and enabled America to regain its sense of national dignity. The wars also served as a catalyst for the development of a navy with which America could project its newly acquired power thousands of miles away. By the time the fighting was over the young republic bore the unmistakable marks of a nation destined to play a major role in international affairs. Text by Gregory Fremont-Barnes.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• Background to War
• Warring States
• Outbreak
• The Fighting
• Portrait of a Sailor
• The World around War
• Portrait of a Civilian
• How the Wars Ended
• Conclusion and Consequences
• Further Reading
• Index