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

those very weaknesses. 88 Consequently, not willing to keep a peace which they
had concluded according to their own terms and written in their own words, the
Americans decided to go on war with Algiers.
2. 3. American Gunboats in Action, 1815-1816
Of the many recurrent arguments that were frequently used by
westerners in general, and Americans particularly, to justify hostilities
committed against Algiers one is worth consideration here. Analyzing the
situation as it was in July 1812, Lear claimed that the Dey acted “without any
reasonable or justifiable causes” because Algiers was at peace with all nations
and the Dey “must make war upon some other nation, with or without a cause,
in order to employ his cruisers.” 89 Strange as it may seem, Lear’s assertion was
in fact part of an 1801 well known letter from Madison, then Secretary of State,
to William Eaton, American consul at Tunis, asking him to trigger hostilities
with any of the ‘Barbary States.’ 90 Madison explained that the United States
was then at peace with all nations and keeping a naval force unemployed at
home would cost nearly the same expense as when “exhibiting [it] on the coast
of Barbary.” He explained that an exhibition of naval force would be more
advantageous to the U.S. navy. Madison went on recommending to Eaton, on
behalf of President Jefferson, “the utmost exertions of your prudence and
address, in giving the measure an impression most advantageous to the
88 Shaler, Sketches of Algiers, p. 119 and Naylor, “Ghosts of Terror Wars Past?” pp. 101-102
respectively.
89 SPPD, 9:132, Lear to Secretary of State, July 29, 1812.
90 ASP/FA, 2:347-48, Extract of a Letter from the Secretary of State to William Eaton, May 20, 1801.
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