Captain Bainbridge and Islam

Though Muslims were driven out of Spain in 1492 they did not disappear from the planet.  They continued to plague the Mediterranean with pirates from north Africa attacking ships and capturing slaves to sell on the Ottoman market.  They soon discovered that they could squeeze cash out America through the usual ransom routine as well.  At first America tried to buy them off but soon found there was never an end to it.  In 1783 a 300 ton American brig was captured along with its crew which inflamed the Americans back home when they were required to pay a ransom for its returned.  Meanwhile the barbary states were at work building a somewhat effective pirate navy with the funds they got from the infidel dogs.

In 1800 Captain William Bainbridge of the USS George Washington was forced by Algiers pirate leader Dey Mustapha to transport hundreds of black slaves to Istanbul under the black Islamic flag.  This was because America had fallen short of their tribute to Islamic pirates.  In 1801 Tripoli proclaimed jihad on the United States because we refused to pay any more jizya to safe guard our merchant ships in the Mediterranean from Muslim pirates.

This prompted America to build a navy of which sent six warships to battle the pirates beginning a war that lasted until 1805.

Excerpt from the Marine corps hymn. “From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli...”.

Despite what the previous president (Obama)may say about it, the shores of Tripoli does not refer to a beach party.  - Brian Johnson

An island near Seattle named after Captain Bainbridge has recently been shocked by this bit of history.  Some apparently only like history that is pleasing to the heart.

The Muslim pirates of north Africa were not totally arrested until 1859 when they were smashed into submission by Spain.