When Pirates Caused the United States to Go to War

The video discusses the Barbary pirates from North Africa who attacked ships in the Mediterranean, leading to conflicts with the United States in the early 1800s. The First Barbary War began when Tripoli declared war on the US after President Jefferson refused to pay tribute. The US Navy, under leaders like Commodore Richard Dale and Stephen Decatur, engaged in blockades and battles, eventually leading to a peace treaty. The Second Barbary War occurred after the War of 1812, with the US successfully negotiating treaties to end pirate attacks.

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