First Barbary War: Its Influence On Presidential War Powers
The First Barbary War: It’s Influence on Presidential War Powers
The First Barbary War: It’s Influence on Presidential War Powers
On May 10th 1801, Yusuf Karamanli, the Pasha of Tripoli, ordered the United States flag cut down in front of the U.S. Consulate. This act sprung the United States into its first armed conflict overseas and ignited the domestic debate over presidential war powers for centuries to come. The First Barbary War was a result of President Thomas Jefferson refusing to pay tributes to the Barbary States, due to piracy. Congress never formally declared war, but we’ll examine Jefferson’s power as a President, to take hostile action.
In the 227 years since the creation of the United States Constitution, the U.S. Armed Forces have been involved in over 100 military conflicts, yet Congress has declared war in only five of them; the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish and American wars, World War I and World War II.1 According to Article I Section 8 of the Constitution, Congress shall have the power…”To declare …show more content…
He believed that the American people would grow tired of paying such high tributes and the best course of action would be an act of hostility. War would be more honorable, more effective, and less expensive than continuing to pay tributes.10 In a letter to Horatio Gates, Jefferson said, “Our trade to Portugal, Spain, and the Mediterranean is annihilated unless we do something decisive. Tribute or war is the usual alternative of these pirates. If we yield the former, it will require sums which our people will feel. Why not begin a navy then and decide on war? We cannot begin in a better cause nor against a weaker foe.”11 The raising demands by the Barbary Coast resulted in the formation of the United States Department of the Navy in 1798. Formation of the department was necessary to prevent further attacks and rising tributes on U.S. interests.
The First Barbary War: It’s Influence on Presidential War Powers
On May 10th 1801, Yusuf Karamanli, the Pasha of Tripoli, ordered the United States flag cut down in front of the U.S. Consulate. This act sprung the United States into its first armed conflict overseas and ignited the domestic debate over presidential war powers for centuries to come. The First Barbary War was a result of President Thomas Jefferson refusing to pay tributes to the Barbary States, due to piracy. Congress never formally declared war, but we’ll examine Jefferson’s power as a President, to take hostile action.
In the 227 years since the creation of the United States Constitution, the U.S. Armed Forces have been involved in over 100 military conflicts, yet Congress has declared war in only five of them; the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish and American wars, World War I and World War II.1 According to Article I Section 8 of the Constitution, Congress shall have the power…”To declare …show more content…
He believed that the American people would grow tired of paying such high tributes and the best course of action would be an act of hostility. War would be more honorable, more effective, and less expensive than continuing to pay tributes.10 In a letter to Horatio Gates, Jefferson said, “Our trade to Portugal, Spain, and the Mediterranean is annihilated unless we do something decisive. Tribute or war is the usual alternative of these pirates. If we yield the former, it will require sums which our people will feel. Why not begin a navy then and decide on war? We cannot begin in a better cause nor against a weaker foe.”11 The raising demands by the Barbary Coast resulted in the formation of the United States Department of the Navy in 1798. Formation of the department was necessary to prevent further attacks and rising tributes on U.S. interests.