Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

and again, westerners dispatched their negotiators to Algiers accompanied by
mighty squadrons. The purpose of that display of naval power was either to
impress, threaten, or effectively use gunfire to force new treaties on Algiers or
renegotiate old ones. As those expeditions were numerous and their
motivations, course, and outcome were complex, one may not be able to cover
them all in a reasonable length here. But with the aim of showing the extent of
western impetuosity and animosity towards Algiers, one may at least attempt to
draw up a summarizing table for the purpose (Table 5: European Naval
Expeditions against Algiers, 1501-1830). The task is difficult and may not
adequately fulfill targeted objectives but it is worth giving it a try.
Europe’s belligerence, greed, and denial of the right of existence to
others had reduced Algiers to a status of defense, defiance, and distrust vis-àvis
the western powers. Consequently, by late 18 th century, Algiers perceived
the presence of any other Christian entity in the Mediterranean as an imminent
danger. This partly explains why early Algerian-American relations where
characterized by reciprocal acrimony and uneasiness. Moreover, European
assaults are important to the understanding of later relations between Algiers
and the USA because they were the crucible in which corsairing diplomacy of
Ottoman Algeria was forged. They were also the model which inspired
America’s founding fathers and diplomats who, as soon as the United States
came out to existence, planned to use of force against Algiers
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