On a return engagement, Tink Hill gave us another fascinating slice of history --
“America’s First War on Terror" - the fight to end white slavery on the northern coast of Africa. In the late 1700s and early 1800s a 1000-mile strip that included Tripoli, Tunis and Algiers was under the Ottoman Empire while Morocco was independent. The Berbers who lived in these areas took to sea in their galleys and started terrorizing the shipping lanes. There were important trade routes in that area with lots of merchandise to seize and the most valuable of the people - passengers and crew. When they were captured, they were sold as slaves - both men and women. Countries along Mediterranean were losing people to slavery this way. Not just from ships but they were taken from towns along the coastlines. It was a very lucrative trade. European countries would either buy tribute or try to ransom the wealthy. After America became independent, their ships became targets with no protection from British Navy. President Jefferson stopped process of paying tribute. He then sent frigates to protect US shipping and they blockaded Tripoli. Between 1801-1805 was the first Berber war. Sweden and Sicily joined them. When the blockade wasn’t working, they worked on a land assault instead. Tink told us details of this assault. Nine Marines were involved and it led to peace treaties, but things weren’t finally resolved until after War of 1812. Tink also showed as a video that told about the war. The line in the Marine Hymn: “…to the shores of Tripoli…” came from this battle.