From the mid-eighteenth century until the early nineteenth century, pirate ships from the so-called Barbary States on the North African coast terrorized foreign shipping in the Mediterranean Sea. What are now the seaport cities of Tangiers (Morocco), Algiers (Algeria), Tunis (Tunisia), and Tripoli (Libya), as well as their surrounding areas, were recognized as separate states. Unless a foreign nation paid tribute to the leaders of these states, its ships were plundered and their crews sent into slavery. Even Great Britain, with its mighty navy, found it easier and cheaper to buy peace than to fight. The newly independent United States, with very little in the way of sea power, did likewise. However, in 1801 an infuriated President Thomas Jefferson surprised the Barbary pirates by sending ships into the Mediterranean. Although this brave show did not end the piracy, it did mark...