The Archivist

Sixty years before the Civil War, America fought a secret war that history has tried to forget. This is the story of the First Barbary War, the United States' first-ever battle on foreign soil against the pirates who enslaved over a million white Europeans and Americans.

While most think of the Transatlantic route when they hear "slave trade," a dark chapter unfolded on the shores of North Africa. For centuries, the Barbary Pirates of the Barbary Coast terrorized the Mediterranean, capturing ships, stealing cargo, and holding crews for a massive ransom. After winning its independence, the young United States was their newest target. This video explores how President Thomas Jefferson refused to pay tribute, leading to a full-blown war. You'll learn about the daring raid of Stephen Decatur and the unbelievable story of how just eight U.S. Marines led a 500-mile march across the desert to do the impossible.

This is the story of the birth of the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps' legacy, a tale of incredible bravery, geopolitical intrigue, and the forgotten war that defined America's place on the world stage.

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