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Establishment Era of the United States Navy

The Establishment Era of the United States Navy represents the time period from the passage of the Naval Act of 1794 to the beginning of the War of 1812. The re-establishment of the U.S. Navy after its disarmament began after the U.S. Congress passed the Naval Act of 1794 due to the threat of Barbary pirates. After the Naval Act of 1794, the U.S. Navy would continue to grow due to effects caused by the Quasi War and the first Barbary war. The Navy forged by these wars would go on to be crucial in the War of 1812 and the second Barbary war in 1815.

Background

After the U.S. Revolutionary War, the United States disbanded the earlier Continental Navy. The purpose of the disbandment was due to numerous reasons. The early Americans believed that an armed force was a tool used by tyrants.^[1] Previously, the army had mutinied in the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783. Scaring many away from the army. Due to the limited power of the Continental Congress, The U.S. government could not fund a Navy even if they wanted to as the new government struggled to gain tax revenue from the states willingly. There was also a belief that a navy was not needed for the young government as the Atlantic ocean could protect them.^[2] These beliefs would be challenged due to the Quasi-War and more importantly the Barbary Wars.

justification for Re-establishment and Early Growth

The Idea of creating a Navy changed due to American shipping being harassed by Barbary Pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. Previously under the British Empire, American shipping was protected by the Royal Navy. After the Colonists established their independence, the British Empire no longer protected American shipping, which was paying tribute to the Barbary states of North Africa.^[2] Now that the United States was no longer protected, the privateers captured merchant ships and wanted to ransom them back to the United States for USD 1,000,000 which at the time was one-fifth of the U.S. budget.^[3] The United States could not pay up quickly due to more important issues related to the creation of the U.S. Constitution.^[4]

During Washington’s term in office, the government was successful in signing a tribute treaty with one of the 4 barbary tribes known as Morocco. But Algiers, another Barbary pirate state, captured 106 American seamen and requested millions for their release.^[4] In response, Thomas Jefferson, who had previously tried to gain an international coalition against the pirates during the American Revolution and in the 1780s, worked as secretary of state under Washington in the 1790s to fund a Navy. Arguing that tribute is more expensive than building a Navy.^[5] Thomas Jefferson’s work culminated in the Naval Act of 1794 which funded the creation of 6 frigates. Work temporarily stopped on 3 of the 6 frigates when a peace treaty was signed with some of the Barbary pirates.^[6] But work continued on the other three when the Quasi-war sparked and contributed to the addition of 30 more smaller ships (but was later reduced by President Adam to 13.^[6]

New additions to the U.S. Navy continued during the Barbary wars. After the disaster of the USS Philadelphia, the U.S. government passed the Mediterranean fund. This law passed in 1804, allowed the government to collect greater tax revenue which contributed to five new frigates being sent to the Mediterranean to fight the Barbary Pirates.^[7]

Military Engagements

Quasi-War

The Quasi-War was an undeclared war between France and the United States from 1798-1800. While there was much tension, not much fighting occurred in the war.^[8] The engagements that did happen were brief and were mostly letters of marque. Occasionally frigates from both sides attack one another. Most notably the battle between U.S.S. Constellation and the French frigate Insurgente. The undeclared war caused the establishment of the Department of the Navy and helped prove that the United States had a functional Navy.^[9]

First Barbary War

The first Barbary war was a war in North Africa that saw the U.S. navy enter the region to protect American interests. As with the Quasi-War, there was little actual fighting that occurred by the U.S. Navy. Instead, most action in the first Barbary War centered around blockading cities. Most notably the city of Tripoli (CITE 296 TERROR).^[10] There were notable engagements. The destruction of USS Philadelphia during a blockade of Tripoli being the most notable.^[11] At the end of the first Barbary war, the U.S. signed a treaty with Tripoli which gave 60,000 dollars over to Tripoli for peace.

Impact

The reestablishment of the U.S. Navy in the beginning was very impactful for the U.S. merchants. After the loss of the protection of the Royal Navy, they now had a new protector on the seas which helped protect their shipping. This can be evident when looking at the insurance rates which fell from a peak of 33% down to 10% after the Navy was created.^[12] The U.S. Navy aided in the growing respect that the United States was earning on the world state.^[13] However, the establishment of the U.S. Navy did not deter the Royal Navy from impressing sailors. U.S. naval ships were even affected by British impressment when the USS Chesapeake was boarded and had some of its sailors seized.^[14] This failure of the U.S. Navy in protecting sailors from the British Navy would contribute to the start of the War of 1812. But the ships and men that gained experience in the Barbary Wars will be crucial in the War of 1812.^[14] The foundations of the U.S. Navy proved important for the early government and after the War of 1812, the navy would go on to develop even more and win major victories in the 2nd Barbary War.

References

^ Dunne, W. M. P.; Whipple, A. B. C. (1991). "To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines". Journal of the Early Republic. 11 (4): 563. doi:10.2307/3123367. ISSN 0275-1275.
^ ^a ^b A.B.C, Whipple (1991). To the shores of Tripoli: The birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines. New York: William Morrow and Company, inc. p. 42. ISBN 0-688-08781-7.
^ A.B.C, Whipple (1991). To the shore of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines. New york: William Morrow and Company, inc. p. 27. ISBN 0-688-08781-7.
^ ^a ^b Chidsey, Donald Barr (1971). The wars in Barbary: Arab Piracy and the birth of the United States. New York: Crown publishers. p. 24.
^ Wheelan, Joseph (2003). Jefferson's war: America's first war on Terror 1801-1803. New York: Carroll & Graf. p. 4.
^ ^a ^b A.B.C., Whipple (1991). To the shores of Tripoli: The birth of the U.S. navy and Marines. William Morrow and Company, inc. p. 51.
^ A.B.C., Whipple (1991). To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and marines. William Morrow and Company, inct. p. 146.
^ Chidsey, Donald Barr (1971). The wars in Barbary: Arab piracy and the birth of the United States Navy. Crown publishers. p. 47.
^ Chidsey, Donald Barr (1971). The wars in Barbar: Arab piracy and the birth of the United States Navy. Crown publishers. p. 51.
^ Wheelan, Joseph (2003). Jefferson's war: America's First War on Terror 1801-1803. Carroll & Graf. p. 296.
^ Whipple, A.B.C. (1991). To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. navy and Marines. William Morrow and company,inc. p. 146.
^ Chidsey, Donald Barr (1991). To the shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines. William Morrow and Company inc. p. 84.
^ Wheelan, Joseph (2003). Jefferson's War: America's First War on Terror 1801-1803. Carroll & Graf. p. 7.
^ ^a ^b A.B.C, Whipple (1991). To the shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines. William Morrow and Company inct. p. 261.

Bibliography

Chidsey, Donald Barr. The wars in Barbary: Arab piracy and the birth of the United States Navy. Crown Publ., 1971.
C., Whipple A B. To the shores of Tripoli: The birth of the U.S. navy and Marines. New York city, New York: William Morrow and Company, inc, 1991.
Wheelan, Joseph. Jefferson’s War America’s First War on Terror 1801-1805. New York city, New York: Carroll & Graf, 2003

External links

Category:1794 in American law Category:United States Navy in the 18th century Category:United States federal defense and national security legislation Category:Presidency of George Washington Category:3rd United States Congress

[1] Dunne, W. M. P.; Whipple, A. B. C. (1991). "To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines". Journal of the Early Republic. 11 (4): 563. doi:10.2307/3123367. ISSN 0275-1275.

[:0-2] A.B.C, Whipple (1991). To the shores of Tripoli: The birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines. New York: William Morrow and Company, inc. p. 42. ISBN 0-688-08781-7.

[3] A.B.C, Whipple (1991). To the shore of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines. New york: William Morrow and Company, inc. p. 27. ISBN 0-688-08781-7.

[:1-4] Chidsey, Donald Barr (1971). The wars in Barbary: Arab Piracy and the birth of the United States. New York: Crown publishers. p. 24.

[5] Wheelan, Joseph (2003). Jefferson's war: America's first war on Terror 1801-1803. New York: Carroll & Graf. p. 4.

[:2-6] A.B.C., Whipple (1991). To the shores of Tripoli: The birth of the U.S. navy and Marines. William Morrow and Company, inc. p. 51.

[7] A.B.C., Whipple (1991). To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and marines. William Morrow and Company, inct. p. 146.

[8] Chidsey, Donald Barr (1971). The wars in Barbary: Arab piracy and the birth of the United States Navy. Crown publishers. p. 47.

[9] Chidsey, Donald Barr (1971). The wars in Barbar: Arab piracy and the birth of the United States Navy. Crown publishers. p. 51.

[10] Wheelan, Joseph (2003). Jefferson's war: America's First War on Terror 1801-1803. Carroll & Graf. p. 296.

[11] Whipple, A.B.C. (1991). To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. navy and Marines. William Morrow and company,inc. p. 146.

[12] Chidsey, Donald Barr (1991). To the shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines. William Morrow and Company inc. p. 84.

[13] Wheelan, Joseph (2003). Jefferson's War: America's First War on Terror 1801-1803. Carroll & Graf. p. 7.

[:3-14] A.B.C, Whipple (1991). To the shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines. William Morrow and Company inct. p. 261.

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