EDWARD PREBLE

In February of 1804, Commodore Edward Preble staged a risky operation in order to prevent the Islamic Barbary powers from using one of the American captured ships against America. With a small band of naval officers he raided the heavily defended harbor in Tripoli and successfully destroyed the ship. Following the incident, Preble and his men were hailed as heroes at home and abroad for “humbling the Muslim North African states”. The clash of Christian and Islamic civilizations was then ongoing.

The American sailors had been captured and were being held for ransom by the Barbary Pirates in terrible conditions. The pirates stated that they were slaves and would be sold if the United States did not come up with enough ransom money. After much debate in America, a squadron of Naval Troops had been dispatched to the Mediterranean where they would “negotiate” with cannon—attacking the ports of the Barbary States.

The American sailors had been captured and were being held for ransom by the Barbary Pirates in terrible conditions. The pirates stated that they were slaves and would be sold if the United States did not come up with enough ransom money. After much debate in America, a squadron of Naval Troops had been dispatched to the Mediterranean where they would “negotiate” with cannon—attacking the ports of the Barbary States.