American–Algerian War (1785–1795)

The Algerian–American War was a state of conflict which existed between the Regency of Algiers and the United States that lasted from 1785 to 1795. Occurring after the U.S. became independent from the British Empire as a result of the American Revolutionary War, Algiers declared war on the United States after realizing that American merchant shipping was no longer under the protection of the Royal Navy.

Barbary pirates operating out of Algiers captured 53 U.S. merchant ships and 1 brig along with 180 American sailors, 83 of whom were subsequently ransomed back by the United States government. Since the Continental Navy had been disbanded in 1783, the U.S. had no navy to protect American shipping, and was forced to sue for peace with Algiers in 1795, agreeing to pay an annual tribute of $21,600. The war led to the United States Congress to pass the Naval Act of 1794, which created the United States Navy.

Background
Beginning in the early modern period, Barbary pirates operating out of the Barbary Coast targeted Christian European merchant shipping, capturing and frequently enslaving their crews as part of the Barbary slave trade. Before independence, American merchant shipping was protected by the Royal Navy. But after the United States declared independence, British diplomats informed the Barbary States that U.S. ships were no longer under their protection and in 1785, Algiers declared war on the United States.

War
In 1785, Algiers, led by Dey Muhammad, declared war on the United States and captured American ships. The financially struggling Confederation Government couldn't afford a navy or the tribute needed for protection. Conversely, negotiations with Morocco went smoothly after initial tensions. Morocco's Sultan Sidi Muhammad had seized a US merchant ship in 1784 but later opted for peaceful trade. The US successfully formed a treaty with Morocco in 1786, yet couldn't satisfy Algiers financially. Thomas Jefferson, then U.S. Minister to France, tried to assemble a coalition against Algiers but failed. Portugal's conflict with Algiers briefly safeguarded U.S. merchant ships in the Atlantic. In 1793, a Portuguese-Algerian truce left American ships vulnerable, pushing the US to negotiate with the Barbary States.

Aftermath
US diplomats Joel Barlow, Joseph Donaldson, and Richard O'Brien secured treaties with Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, involving tribute payments. The Algiers treaty also released 83 American sailors out of 130 seamen.