Stepping+Up+to+the+Barbary+States

toc =Questions= Why didn't the United States step up to the Barbary States sooner?

The reason we asked this question is that we wanted to know why they continued their relationship with the Barbary states.We knew that they had to pay a tribute to Algiers and the states in general just for a alliance,which ended up not being a good alliance.

=Gathering and Evaluating Evidence=

We began by going to the sites Gilder Lehman,Library of Congress and National Archives.We had some trouble because there were not a lot of documents on why they didn't step up but the one that we found proved to be useful. The main document that we used was the Treaty of Algiers,we found in this document that the U.S. had to pay a large sum of money per year.The document also talked about how Algiers and the other Barbary states would provide protection,this would be a main reason for not stepping up for having to pay that large amount of money.A small nation with a small navy would not last long against the Barbary pirates. The two following bullets are pieces from the first treaty between the U.S. and Algiers.It describes a few transactions and dealings involving money.Which brings to attention a few answers to our question.
 * Congress having been pleased to invest us with full Powers for entering into Treaty of Amity & Alliance with the Dey & Government of Algiers & it being impracticable for us to attend on them in Person & equally impracticable on account of our separate Stations to receive a Minister from them, We have concluded to effect our object by the intervention of a confidential Person. We concur in wishing to avail the United States of your Talents in the execution of of this Business, and therefore furnish you with a Letter to the Dey and Government of Algiers to give a due Credit to your transactions with them …., We advise you to proceed by the way of Madrid where you will have opportunities of deriving many lights from Mr. Carmichael & from the Minister from Algiers to the Court of Madrid & the Count D’Espilly lately arrived from Algiers who


 * When the Articles shall all be agreed you will sign them in a preliminary form & send them to us by some proper Person for definitive execution., The whole expense of this treaty, including as well the Expenses of all Persons employed about it, as the presents to the Dey &c must not exceed 40.000 Dollars & we urge you to use your best endeavors to bring them as much below that Sum as you possibly can.  And to this End we leave it to your discretion to represent to the Dey &  Government of Algiers or their Ministers if it may be done with Safety, the particular circumstances of the United States, just emerging from a long & distressing war, with one of the most powerful nations of Europe ; which we hope may be an apology if our presents should not be so splendid as those of older & abler Nations., As Custom may have rendered some presents necessary in the beginning or progress of this Business, & before it is concluded or

This document talks about how Algiers was talking back in forth with some of their allies about how the U.S. was not useful now but in a while they will be very useful and have lots of resources to help them.This may have been a reason that Algiers was being so nice to the early united states,or so they thought.Even though they still made them pay a large fee. In this letter from Ben Franklin,we found that by the help of a certain negotiator he saved the U.S. lots of money from which the money would have eventually gone to the States as tribute. > > We also found this document which contained a thanks to another negotiator about his talks with the country of Morocco.By the tone of this letter it seems as if Morocco was acting inappropriately during negotiations. Which reminds us of the XYZ affair with France.
 * Thanks the Emperor for sending letters to the rulers of Tunis and Tripoli re: Barbary pirates, explaining that America cannot pay the desired tribute, having ”no Mines, either of Gold, or Silver, and ... just recovering from the Waste and Desolation of a long War.” However, he predicts that the United States ”shall gradually become useful to our friends.” Writing as the new head of state, ”the United States, having unanimously appointed me to the supreme executive Authority, in this Nation...”
 * Sir., It is with great Pleasure I add my Testimonial to those you are already possess’d of that your conduct in the service of the United States, as their Consul while I was in France, and had the best opportunity of being acquainted with it, was not only unexceptionable, but highly advantageous to the Publick - you having by your Skill and ability in the management of their commercial business , saved them some Thousands of Pounds. With great and Sincere Esteem, I am, Sir, Your most obedt., and most humble Servt., (Sign’d.) B. Franklin., , Thomas Barclay Esqr. Keywords/Subjects: [|__Barbary Coast;__] , [|__Pir__]
 *  I have the honor of transmitting to you herewith inclos’d, an Act of Congress expressing their approbation of your conduct in the late Negociations with Morocco. The Talents and Disinterestedness Manifested in these Negociations are no less honorable to you, than advantageous to our Country, and as approbation shou’d always attend and reward Merit, I am happy [2] in respecting that their Union on this Occasion cannot fail to give you very Sensible Pleasure <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. With Sincere Esteem & Regard, I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient, and humble servt., (Sign’d.) John Jay., Thomas Barclay Esqr. &, , Philadelphia Novr.

=Interpretation=

In the end of our investigation we concluded with several reasons that they didn't stand up to the Barbary states.The first reason is that the young country did not have much strength to stop pirates in the Barbary states,since they were young they did not have barely any type of navy so they needed protection.The second reason is that we need allies since our only allies were at war with each other they needed some type of help from outside of the country,if they stopped connections with Algiers they would be left alone even though they had to pay a extremely large amount of money.Also the Barbary states said they they did not want to loose relations with the U.S. because it said that they would one day would have resources. That was our interpretation of the Treaty with the Barbary states and why they didn't stand up to them earlier.

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