The Barbary Pirates were North Africans who captured, looted and sank American merchant ships. In order for the ships to get by the merchant ships had been paying a tribute to them, but Jefferson was elected President in 1800 and declared he would not pay one penny as tribute to the pirates. Therefore, he sent a battleship to end the blockade. However, the ship was sunk and another ship was captured. Jefferson payed $60,000 in ransom for the ship and its crew and signed a peace treaty with the pirates. This ordeal humiliated the United States but also made Jefferson realize the need for a naval force.
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