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

United States could not pretend to financial problems—as was indeed the case
during the Confederation era, those views could possibly explain the delays in
delivery of stores to Algiers. A second possible explanation was advanced by
the American historian Glenn Tucker. According to Tucker, the United States
learned from other countries that it was better to be in arrears than deliver
stores to Algiers because the more the sum owed became bigger, the more the
Dey could not risk loosing it by seizing ships or declaring war. 24 Probably also,
this could be re-read as an early form of realpolitics which the Americans
adopted in total disrespect of the terms of the 1795 treaty and agreements
concluded.
1. 2. Further Friction: an ‘Algerine Flag’ atop an American Battleship
More than just Americans’ indignation and prejudices which debased
Muslims to the rank of animals, tensions exceeded to interpretation of the
treaty of 1795. In 1800, and instead of a common merchantman as it was usual,
the United States decided to send the frigate George Washington, an old
privateer and “burthernsome vessel” that was armed for the emerging U.S.
navy, to bring the long overdue naval stores to the Dey. 25 As the frigate was the
first American government’s naval vessel ever to enter the Mediterranean, one
may imagine that the purpose was probably to make an impression on the Dey.
24 Tucker, Dawn Like Thunder, p. 430.
25 NDBW, 1:355, Pickering to Humphreys, Jan., 17, 1800.
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