jan 1, 1801 - First Barbary War

Description:

The First Barbary War was an unofficial conflict between the United States and the African states of Morocco, Tripoli, Algiers, and Tunis because those states harbored and supported pirates’ actions against U.S. ships in the Atlantic and seizing ships and impressing men- demanding that the United States pay them a tribute. This event is significant because it was Jefferson’s first foreign issue and showed the world that the United States had enough backbone to not be forced into unfair bribes and that they are a force worth thinking twice over. It also showed the United States government that countries will go back on their word, so it is important that the country always has a good military to defend themselves.