Question

1) what precedent did jefferson set when he took action against the barbary pirates ?

Answer 1

Jefferson's actions against the Barbary pirates set a precedent of using economic sanctions, like the Embargo Act of 1807, to combat foreign aggression rather than immediately resorting to war, although the effects of such measures were ultimately limited and led to domestic economic hardship.

Step-by-step explanation:

The precedent set by Jefferson when he took action against the Barbary pirates was a move towards using economic measures as a response to international conflicts, specifically maritime harassment. Jefferson proposed the Embargo Act of 1807, intended to curtail British and French interference with American shipping without resorting to war. This embargo represented a new tactic in dealing with foreign pressures, but it resulted in significant economic hardship at home and was largely ineffective at changing British and French policies. Jefferson's response to the Barbary pirates and the broader conflicts at sea were a part of his strategy of avoiding military confrontation whenever possible, as shown by his approaches to the Napoleonic Wars and reducing the size of the professional military.

Answer 2

When Thomas Jefferson took action against the Barbary pirates, he set a precedent of using military force to protect American interests and defend the nation's sovereignty. The Barbary pirates operated from the North African coast (modern-day Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya) and demanded tribute from countries to prevent attacks on their ships. When Jefferson became president in 1801, he refused to pay these tributes, which led to the First Barbary War (1801-1805).

This conflict marked the first time the United States engaged in a foreign war as a new nation, establishing the precedent that the U.S. would use military force when necessary to protect its citizens, defend its sovereignty, and uphold its international commitments.

Jefferson's decision also demonstrated that the United States was willing to stand up to extortion and assert its rights on the world stage. The eventual success of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in the First Barbary War helped to solidify America's reputation as a growing power and set a precedent of refusing to pay tributes to piracy.