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Tripoli and the war with the U.S.A., 1801–5

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2009

Kola Folayan
Kola Folayan
Affiliation:
University of Ife
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Extract

This paper has attempted a new look at the course of the Tripoli-American War of 1801–5. The approach is, first, to avoid the beaten track and concentrate on the more obscure part of the story, namely, Tripoli's conduct of the war; and secondly, to attempt an explanation of Tripoli's success (or conversely America's failure) in a way that is different from the general American pattern. In this respect, emphasis has therefore been, not on the ineffectiveness of the American navy, but on three other important factors. These are: the moral and material support of the neighbouring Maghribi states for Tripoli's cause; the favourable international situation which helped Tripoli economically through the livestock trade with Malta; and thirdly, the contribution of Tripoli's navy, both as an instrument of warfare and as an economic asset. The paper concludes with an assessment of the international, dynastic, and political significance of the outcome of the war for Tripoli.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of African History , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , April 1972 , pp. 261 - 270
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

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References

1 For Tripoli-American diplomatic relations and the causes of the ‘Tripolitan war’, see Kola, Folayan: ‘Tripoli during the reign of Yusuf Pasha Qaramanli’ (Ph.D. London, 1970), 55–6, and 64–73.Google Scholar

2 See, for example, Allen, G. W., Our Navy and the Barbary Corsairs (Hamden, 1965), chapters VII–XIV,Google ScholarIrwin, R. W., The Diplomatic Relations of the United States with the Barbary Powers 1776–1816 (North Carolina Press, 1931), 106 ff.Google ScholarAnderson, R. C., Naval Wars in the Levant (Liverpool, 1952), chapter XIV.Google Scholar

3 See below, p. 269.

4 Irwin, R. W., op. cit. 106; Naval Documents: Barbary Wars (U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington, 1939), I, 566, 570–5.Google Scholar

5 As the other captives were British, the Pasha released them to the British Ag. Consul in Tripoli, McDonough. See Naval Documents… etc., II, 281.Google Scholar

6 Wright, L. B. and Macleod, J. H., The First Americans in North Africa (Princeton, 1945), 136.Google Scholar

7 Ibid. and Allen, E. G., op. cit. 164–73.Google Scholar

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9 Kola, Folayan, op. cit. 51.Google Scholar

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12 Allen, G. W., op. cit. 116, 123–4 and 227.Google Scholar

13 For the political situation in Egypt, see Holt, P. M., Egypt and the Fertile Crescent, 1516–1922: A Political History (London, 1966), 176 ff.Google Scholar

14 For a copy of the treaty, see Naval Documents… etc., V, 367–8.Google Scholar

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22 Ibid.

23 Ibid.

24 Ibid.

25 Ibid. VI, 103–5; Irwin, R. W., op. cit., 252–3.Google Scholar For a copy of the treaty, see American State Papers Class I: Foreign Relations (Washington, 1832), II, 697–8.Google Scholar

26 See for example, Wright, L. B. and Macleod, J. H., op. cit. 87, 132, 137 and 144;Google Scholar and Irwin, R. W., op. cit. 697–8.Google Scholar

27 This was one of the main grievances of the Pasha of Tripoli against America. See, Kola, Folayan, op. cit. 65–7.Google Scholar

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30 F.O., 76/16:Google ScholarWarrington, to Bathurst, , 5 07 1822.Google Scholar

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33 Ibid. I, 465; III, 464, 485–6; and V, 345–6.

34 Ibid. II, 384.

35 Ibid. III, 487 and v, 541.

36 F.O., 76/5: Lucas to Portland, 12 05 1800; Naval Documents… etc., in, 295 and 332.Google Scholar

37 F.O., 76/7: Langford to Liverpool, 22 10 1811.Google Scholar

38 The rate of exchange was then 5 Spanish dollars or 2 Venetian sequins to the £ See Naval Document … etc., I, 333, and also F.O. 161/10:Google ScholarLucas, to Portland, 30 06 1795.Google Scholar

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40 See above, pp. 2 and 9.

41 F.O., 76/5:Google ScholarMcDonough, to Pelham, , 2 12 1802.Google Scholar

42 Naval Documents … etc., IV, 294.Google Scholar

43 Ibid. VI, 107.