Day 7, February 1

Can you guess what the pasha  did upon receiving Jefferson's refusal?  He chopped down the flagpole in front of the United States Consulate in Tripoli and declared war on America.  Like dominoes, Algiers, Morocco, and Tunis fell in line.

Jefferson decided to meet force with force.  Immediately, he dispatched a squadron of frigates to the Mediterranean Sea to teach the Barbary Coast states a lesson.  With Congress's authorization, Jefferosn empowered American ships to seize all vessels and goods of the pasha of Tripol and also to "cause to be done all other acts of precaution or hostility as the state of war would dictate."

Accustomed to American acquiesance to the outrageous demands, Algiers and Tunis were taken aback that the United States had both the will and the means to fight.  They quickly abandoned their allegiance to Tripoli.

Under Jefferson's leadership, American proved herself.  His refusal to be cowed by the Muslim pirates earned respect among both the nations of the Barbary Coast and others.