America's War Against Pirates

American History Hit

History Hit

America, History

4.3 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 21 May 2026

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Just twenty years after independence, the United States fought a lesser-known war against the Barbary States of North Africa... some use the term 'Corsairs', others referred to them as 'Pirates'. But why was America there? How was diplomacy conducted during this time? And how did these conflicts help transform a fragile republic into an emerging naval power?

Our guest today is Dr. Abby Mullen, professor at the United States Naval Academy. Her work includes hosting the ‘Consolation Prize’ podcast, and her book ‘To Fix a National Character: The United States in the First Barbary War, 1800–1805’, which won the ‘John R. Lyman Book Award’ in 2024.

All opinions expressed here are Abby's, and not those of the US Naval Academy, US Department of Defense or the US Government.

Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Want to explore even more history? Sign up to History Hit, where you will discover history from around the world.
0:07.1	From the American Revolution to prehistoric Scotland, there is plenty to discover. With your subscription, you'll unlock hundreds of hours of exclusive documentaries, with a brand new release every week, exploring everything from the ancient
0:22.4	world to World War II. Just visit history hit.com slash subscribe to bring the past alive.
0:32.9	It is February 1804. In the dark waters of Tripoli Harbor, on the shores of North Africa,
0:40.0	flames climb high into the night sky as the American warship Philadelphia burns.
0:46.0	Fire consuming its wooden hull, sending sparks swirling high above the harbor.
0:51.4	Along the waterfront, a crowd gathers to watch the spectacle. While out of sight,
0:56.0	beyond the glow of the fire, a small vessel filled with Americans slips quietly and covertly
1:02.0	out to sea. Just 20 years after gaining independence from Great Britain, the United States
1:08.3	has found itself enmeshed in a distant conflict on Mediterranean
1:12.2	shores, in a dangerous web of privateers, tribute, diplomacy, and war. But why? Why was America
1:20.2	fighting on the far side of the Atlantic against pirates and warlords? What could this possibly
1:26.3	mean for a fragile republic only now climbing to
1:29.2	its feet as a nation? And how would this obscure struggle helped transform the United States
1:34.9	into an emerging force on the world stage?
1:40.9	Greetings all. Welcome to American History Hit. I'm your host, Don Wildman. Thanks for listening.
1:46.1	Today we speak of piracy on the high seas and the Barbary Wars of the early 1800s with an expert on the subject.
1:54.5	Abigail Mullen is an assistant professor of naval history at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis.
2:00.6	The midshipman. She is the author of To Fix a National Character, the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, the midshipman.
2:01.7	She is the author of To Fix a National Character, the United States in the First Barbary War,
2:06.2	1800 to 1805.
2:22.2	Professor Mullen, Abby, very nice to have you here. Thank you. It's really great to be here.
	...

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