:Second Barbary War

{{See also|Barbary slave trade}}

The First Barbary War (1801–1805) had led to an uneasy truce between the US and the Barbary states, but American attention turned to Britain and the War of 1812. The Barbary pirates returned to their practice of attacking American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean Sea and ransoming their crews to the United States government.{{Cite book|title=Victory in Tripoli: How America's War with the Barbary Pirates Established the U.S. Navy and Shaped a Nation|last=London|first=Joshua E.|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc.|year=2005|isbn=978-1630260378|location=New Jersey|pages=235–236}} At the same time, the major European powers were still involved in the Napoleonic Wars, which did not fully end until 1815.Gregory Fremont-Barnes, The Wars of the Barbary Pirates (London: Osprey, 2006) [https://archive.org/details/alshlwy141_yahoo_1805 online]

At the conclusion of the War of 1812, however, the United States returned to the problem of Barbary piracy. On 3 March 1815, Congress authorized deployment of naval power against Algiers, and the squadron under the command of Commodore Stephen Decatur set sail on 20 May. It consisted of {{USS|Guerriere|1814|6}} (flagship), {{USS|Constellation|1797|2}}, Macedonia, {{HMS|Epervier|1812|2}}, {{USS|Ontario|1813|2}}, {{USS|Firefly|1814|2}}, {{USS|Spark|1813|2}}, Flambeau, {{USS|Torch|1814|2}}, and {{USS|Spitfire|1814|2}}.{{cite book |last=Allen |first=Gardner Weld| title=Our Navy and the Barbary Corsairs |url=https://archive.org/details/ournavybarbaryco00alle |ref=Allen, 1905 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin & Co. |location=Boston, New York and Chicago |year=1905 |page=[https://archive.org/details/ournavybarbaryco00alle/page/281 281]}}

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File:DecaturOffAlgiers.jpg

During the War of 1812, Algiers had generally aligned with the British (although Britain's Atlantic blockade had limited US trade in the Mediterranean region). President Madison recommended that Congress declare the "existence of a state of war between the United States and the Dey and Regency of Algiers."{{cite web|title=Declarations of War and Authorizations for the Use of Military Force: Historical Background and Legal Implications|url=https://sgp.fas.org/crs/natsec/RL31133.pdf|work=Congressional Research Service|access-date=17 March 2023|date=18 April 2014|author1=Jennifer K. Elsea|author2=Matthew C. Weed }} While Congress did not formally declare a state of war, they did pass legislation, enacted on 3 March 1815, that authorized the president to use the U.S. Navy, "as judged requisite by the President" to protect the "commerce and seamen" of the United States on the "Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean and adjoining seas." Congress also authorized the president to grant the U.S. Navy the ability to seize all vessels and goods belonging to Algiers. The legislation also authorized the president to commission privateers for the same purpose.

On 20 May 1815, a 10-ship squadron left New York (to be followed by a larger fleet under command of William Bainbridge).{{cite web | url=https://clements.umich.edu/exhibit/barbary-wars/second-barbary-war/ | title=The Second Barbary War: The Algerine War }} Shortly after departing Gibraltar en route to Algiers, Decatur's squadron encountered the Algerian flagship Meshouda and captured it in the Battle off Cape Gata. They also managed to capture the Algerian brig Estedio in the Battle off Cape Palos. On 29 June, the squadron had reached Algiers and had initiated negotiations with the Bey. The United States made persistent demands for compensation, mingled with threats of destruction, and the Dey capitulated. He signed a treaty aboard the Guerriere in the Bay of Algiers on 3 July 1815, in which Decatur agreed to return the captured Meshuda and Estedio. The Algerians returned all American captives, estimated to be about 10, in exchange for about 500 subjects of the Dey.{{Cite web|url=https://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/bar1815t.asp|title=Treaty of Peace, Signed Algiers June 30 and July 3, 1815|website=avalon.law.yale.edu|access-date=4 February 2022|quote=ARTICLE 3rd The Dey of Algiers shall cause to be immediately delivered up to the American Squadron now off Algiers all the American Citizens now in his possession, amounting to ten more or less, and all the Subjects of the Dey of Algiers now in the power of the United States amounting to five hundred more or less, shall be delivered up to him, the United States according to the usages of civilized nations requiring no ransom for the excess of prisoners in their favor.}} Algeria also paid $10,000 for seized shipping. The treaty guaranteed no further tributes by the United States{{Cite web|url=https://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/bar1815t.asp|title=Treaty of Peace, Signed Algiers June 30 and July 3, 1815|website=avalon.law.yale.edu|access-date=4 February 2022|quote=ARTICLE 2d It is distinctly understood between the Contracting parties, that no tribute either as biennial presents, or under any other form or name whatever, shall ever be required by the Dey and Regency of Algiers from the United States of America on any pretext whatever.}} and granted the United States full shipping rights in the Mediterranean Sea.

Despite having successfully negotiated for their freedom, all 10 US captives perished when the ship returning them to the US, Epervier, sank in the Atlantic ocean on 9 August 1815. Although the conflict was brief and small-scale, it showed US resolve and was a victory for free trade.

In early 1816, Britain undertook a diplomatic mission, backed by a small squadron of ships of the line, to Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers to convince the Deys to stop their piracy and free European Christian slaves. The Deys of Tunis and Tripoli agreed without any resistance, but the Dey of Algiers was less cooperative, and the negotiations were stormy. The leader of the diplomatic mission, Admiral Edward Pellew, believed that he had negotiated a treaty to stop the slavery of Christians and returned to England. However, just after the treaty was signed, Algerian troops massacred 200 Corsican, Sicilian and Sardinian fishermen who had been under British protection thanks to the negotiations. This caused outrage in Britain and the rest of Europe, and Pellew's negotiations were seen as a failure.{{Cite book|title=Commander: The Life and Exploits of Britain's Greatest Frigate Captain|last=Taylor|first=Stephen|publisher=faber and faber|year=2012|isbn=978-0-571-27711-7|location=London|pages=[https://archive.org/details/commanderlifeexp0000tayl/page/10 10]|url=https://archive.org/details/commanderlifeexp0000tayl/page/10}}

As a result, Pellew was ordered to sea again to complete the job and punish the Algerians. He gathered a squadron of five ships of the line, reinforced by a number of frigates, later reinforced by a flotilla of six Dutch ships. On 27 August 1816, following a round of failed negotiations, the fleet delivered a punishing nine-hour bombardment of Algiers. The attack immobilized many of the Dey's corsairs and shore batteries, forcing him to accept a peace offer of the same terms that he had rejected the day before. Pellew warned that if the terms were not accepted, he would continue the action. The Dey accepted the terms, but Pellew had been bluffing since his fleet had already spent all its ammunition.{{Cite book|title=Commander: The Life and Exploits of Britain's Greatest Frigate Captain|last=Taylor|first=Stephen|publisher=faber and faber|year=2012|isbn=978-0-571-27711-7|location=London|pages=[https://archive.org/details/commanderlifeexp0000tayl/page/292 292]|url=https://archive.org/details/commanderlifeexp0000tayl/page/292}}

A treaty was signed on 24 September 1816. The British Consul and 1,083 other Christian slaves were freed, and the U.S. ransom money repaid.Fremont-Barnes, pp 84-85.{{fcn|date=August 2021}}

• First Barbary War
• Bombardment of Algiers (1816)
• Military history of the United States
• Barbary treaties
• US President James Madison

{{Main|Barbary Wars#Further reading}}

• {{Cite book|last=Toll| first=Ian W.

|title= Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy |publisher =W. W. Norton & Company |date=17 March 2008|isbn =978-0393330328}}

{{Reflist}}

• Adams, Henry. History of the United States of America During the Administrations of Thomas Jefferson. Originally published 1891; Library of America edition 1986. {{ISBN|0-940450-34-8}}
• Lambert, Frank [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0809095335/ The Barbary Wars: American Independence in the Atlantic World] New York: Hill and Wang, 2005
• London, Joshua E.[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471444154 Victory in Tripoli: How America's War with the Barbary Pirates Established the U.S. Navy and Shaped a Nation] New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005
• Oren, Michael B. Power, Faith, and Fantasy: The United States in the Middle East, 1776 to 2006. New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 2007. {{ISBN|978-0-393-33030-4}}

• [http://www.barbarywarfare.com Barbary Warfare]
• [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/barbary/barmenu.htm Treaties with The Barbary Powers: 1786–1836]
• [http://www.clements.umich.edu/exhibits/online/barbary/barbary-introduction.php The Barbary Wars at the Clements Library]: An online exhibit on the Barbary Wars with images and transcriptions of primary documents from the period.
• {{unfit|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060515222634/http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/hl940.cfm Victory in Tripoli: Lessons for the War on Terrorism]}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071008081409/http://tripolibook.com/ Tripoli: The United States’ First War on Terror]
• [http://www.victoryintripoli.com/ Victory In Tripoli]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110725220038/http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/whtslav.htm When Europeans Were Slaves]

{{American conflicts}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Conflicts in 1815

Category:1815 in Africa

Category:1815 in the Ottoman Empire

Category:1815 in the United States

Category:Wars involving the United States

Category:Wars involving the Regency of Algiers