"Pirates from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean:
USS Constitution’s Early Missions to Protect Global Trade"
USS Constitution’s Early Missions to Protect Global Trade"
June 13, 2022
1:15pm
Presented by Carl Herzog in person at Cary Memorial Library and via Zoom seminar
The program is free and open to the public, but If you are watching via Zoom, please register to receive the Zoom link.
1:15pm
Presented by Carl Herzog in person at Cary Memorial Library and via Zoom seminar
The program is free and open to the public, but If you are watching via Zoom, please register to receive the Zoom link.
Carl Herzog
Before becoming known as "Old Ironsides", Constitution spent a tumultuous decade participating in conflicts on both sides of the Atlantic to protect America's rapidly growing global trade -- a Navy role that continues through today.
By 1794, America had developed a prosperous trade with the eastern Mediterranean. After losing ships, however, seeing their sailors imprisoned, and paying tribute to the Barbary corsairs, the young nation decided to establish a standing navy to fight back. By 1796, things had settled down in the Mediterranean, but were heating up in the Caribbean. The first real task of the fledgling US Navy, now consisting of three ships including the USS Constitution, was to head to the Caribbean and protect merchant shipping.
After the Revolution, America had made a tentative peace with Britain and merchants were anxious to trade with both the British and the French. Britain and France were at war, however, and France viewed America’s friendship with Britain as grounds to revoke their treaties of amity signed when France came to America’s aid in the American Revolution. American shipping, they declared, was fair game to the French privateers who were seizing ships all over the Caribbean. These privateers ran their own war against American commerce, sanctioned by the French government, in what became known as a quasi-war.
The conflict lasted four years and was eventually resolved by treaty, which in turn created new friction with Britain and was a contributing factor leading up to the War of 1812.
USS Constitution spent the next 50 years protecting American shipping, mostly back in the Mediterranean. The Barbary Pirates became a serious threat once again in 1801. Most North African states were brought to the table and stopped their privateering behavior after the Siege of Tripoli in 1805. Constitution played roles in major events in history, including the Greek War of Independence and the separation of the Egyptian states from the Ottoman Turks.
“The panorama of world history opens up when you look at Constitution’s history,” Carl Herzog concludes.
Herzog is pictured above under the Constitution’s keel while the ship was undergoing major repairs.
By 1794, America had developed a prosperous trade with the eastern Mediterranean. After losing ships, however, seeing their sailors imprisoned, and paying tribute to the Barbary corsairs, the young nation decided to establish a standing navy to fight back. By 1796, things had settled down in the Mediterranean, but were heating up in the Caribbean. The first real task of the fledgling US Navy, now consisting of three ships including the USS Constitution, was to head to the Caribbean and protect merchant shipping.
After the Revolution, America had made a tentative peace with Britain and merchants were anxious to trade with both the British and the French. Britain and France were at war, however, and France viewed America’s friendship with Britain as grounds to revoke their treaties of amity signed when France came to America’s aid in the American Revolution. American shipping, they declared, was fair game to the French privateers who were seizing ships all over the Caribbean. These privateers ran their own war against American commerce, sanctioned by the French government, in what became known as a quasi-war.
The conflict lasted four years and was eventually resolved by treaty, which in turn created new friction with Britain and was a contributing factor leading up to the War of 1812.
USS Constitution spent the next 50 years protecting American shipping, mostly back in the Mediterranean. The Barbary Pirates became a serious threat once again in 1801. Most North African states were brought to the table and stopped their privateering behavior after the Siege of Tripoli in 1805. Constitution played roles in major events in history, including the Greek War of Independence and the separation of the Egyptian states from the Ottoman Turks.
“The panorama of world history opens up when you look at Constitution’s history,” Carl Herzog concludes.
Herzog is pictured above under the Constitution’s keel while the ship was undergoing major repairs.