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What Did Thomas Jefferson Do During The Long War

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This report will start out with a summary of what Thomas Jefferson did during this long war. Thomas Jefferson was the one man who began the war for America, but it was not as if he had a choice. The Barbary pirates were demanding too high a price for the young American government. The tribute for safe passage to trade with the Mediterranean Sea started under Washington, increased under Adams, but Jefferson thought the bribe was too much. As the vice president under John Adams, he fought congress, saying that they shouldn’t pay the insanely high tribute to the Tripoleans, who could easily still keep capturing US merchant ships. After Jefferson was elected president, he was faced with the task of releasing prisoners that the Barbary pirates had captured. Jefferson was forced to pay a hefty sum of money to release these prisoners. Meanwhile, Jefferson fought congress for the funding of warships to police the areas around the North African coast, and intimidate them into not being hostile to the Americans. After the first wave of ships, Jefferson kept up a steady flow of ships into the Mediterranean. Those ships added and the pirate ships captured made up a strong naval force. Because of Jefferson the Americans not only succeeded in regaining their prisoners, but in winning back their trade routes from the Barbary pirates …show more content…

William Eaton was a key factor in the battle of Derne, as it was his forces that helped storm the town in a head on attack. After that battle his forces were ready to march all the way through Tripoli, but he received news that a treaty had been made with the Bashaw of Tripoli, releasing the prisoners of the USS Philadelphia, and Tripoli agreeing to not disturb the US shipping lanes. Eaton was also upset about the fact that the bashaws brother, Hamet Caramelli was not given the throne as he was promised and also didn’t receive any payment for years after him attempting to overthrow his

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