To the Shores of Tripoli: The Birth of the U.S. Navy and Marines

by A.B.C. Whipple

Book Overview

Often-overlooked yet significant and prophetic event in U.S. history, the Barbary War was America's first battle against an Arab despot and President Thomas Jefferson's first major challenge to U.S.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688087817
• ISBN13: 9780688087814
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 357 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

The Start of a Tradition

"To The Shores of Tripoli" is one of those rare books which present a segment of American history in a way which foreshadows current crises and developments. As such it is a very interesting and timely book. This book tells the story of America's first incursion into the morass of the ongoing conflict between Christendom and Islam. As such, it provides an interesting backdrop to the current war on terrorism. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Barbary states of North African pursued a state policy of attacking Christian shipping for the purpose of taking prizes as well as prisoners who could be released for ransom or sold into slavery. The traditional response to this practice by the great European powers was the payment of annual tribute to the states in order to purchase immunity from seizure for their merchantmen. Ironically, it was the Unites States, a new nation brimming with little more than enthusiasm, which chose Mar's response to this challenge. The bellicose response of the U.S. can be most clearly attributed to Thomas Jefferson. As consul in France, Jefferson had lobbied for a military response to the Barbary pirates. As President, he had the opportunity to make his wishes policy. One necessary step to implement this policy was for the U.S. to build a Navy, the cost of which made the proposal very controversial. Two of the vessels built for the expedition, the Constitution of Boston and the Constellation of Baltimore, remain on public display in the harbors in which they were built. Others, such as the Nautilus and Enterprise, were part of a long line of traditional naval names which have continued to recent times.With fleets built and assembled, the Mediterranean squadron set sail for duty. Remaining in the Mediterranean for several years, the fleet had an inconsistent history of waiting and striking, success and failure. Several changes of commander were necessary before the right combination of men and ships was achieved in order to make decisive action possible. Throughout the process, U.S. actions were hampered by the delay in communications between Washington and the front.Through a combination of diplomatic pressure, naval attack and land based assaults involving U.S. Marines and local insurgents, the U.S. succeeded in extracting the release of American prisoners and treaties of peace between the U.S. and the Barbary States.This story does give an insight into several themes of history. The problems resulting from decisions made in Washington being based on stale information reminds us of the power and responsibility of theatre commanders in eras in which direction from the political powers took months to transmit. There was no micro management from Washington in this war!A study of the Tripolitan Wars may provide insights into similarities to contemporary policy challenges. In Jefferson's day, as well as in Bush's, it was the United States, not European powers, which determined to rid the world of e

It needs a map!!

Beyond that a very good work. Somewhat more scholarly than the Tuchman history's I have come to enjoy but still keeps things moving. It does speak to events of our time which really is why I got the bood. Draw your own conclusions, just have an Atlas nearby until the locations mesh with the story.

Over the Hills, and Very Far Away...

This is a slam-bang account of the first overseas campaign waged by the United States. With a new, expert little Navy, and an even smaller Marine Corps, the young United States, after great success against the Revolutionary French Navy in the Quasi-War, the cocky country, fed up with foreign blackmail and extortion, sends a squadron to the Mediterranean to deal with the problem. This is adventure and high deeds at its best. Naval historian ABC Whipple is definitely up to the challenge here and he has produced a winner of a tale and a book.All of the elements of high suspense are here: daring raids into dark harbors, ships exploding in the night from unknown causes, the roar and rush of boarders from gun deck to gun deck, dedicated seamen and Marines sacrificing themselves for their comrades, the mystery of the Arab world, and the double dealing of what was essentially a group of pirate states, a daring march across the North African desert with a motley army of Arabs, Greek mercenaries, and 'a few Marines' who, at the end of their journey launch a neck-or-nothing assault against a fortified city and take it, raising the US flag, for the first time, 'over a fortress of the Old World.'This is history at its best and this book rekindled an interest in the young US Navy, which has blossomed into a mini-collection of excellent books on the subject, of which this was the first. This book should be read by everyone with an interest in US history. A great read, an excellent book, and superb history.

This'll Keep You on the Edge of your Seat.

I got the unabridged audio edition. I stayed with it tape after tape at work for 3 consecutive days. I was not disappointed. The events described in this narrative should never have gone forgotten, although it seems they have. Whipple has brought to remembrance some of our early great American heroes. I was surprised that so much primary source material was available on the Tripolitan wars. Whipple has really done his homework and the narrative, though non-fiction, reads like a top novel. I came here seeking the book version in order to purchase it for my library and have found, sadly, that the work is out-of-print. If you're an American History buff, you'll be happy to have this in your library, provided you can find a good copy. I rated this a 5, which it surely deserves. Unfortunately, worthy books never seem to stay in print for as long as trashy fair, and this may be difficult to secure. I hope you find it.

A rip-roarin' good tale of the Tripolitan Wars.

Pirates and Pashas, courageous American sailors and marines, Presidents and diplomats, heroes, POWs, bribery, incompetence, fools, mishaps and mayhem. This is the story of the almost forgotten but historically significant Tripolitan Wars. Had Thomas Jefferson not pursued an aggressive military policy in the Mediterranean in the early 1800s, the US Navy and Marine Corps may have been woefully unprepared for the War of 1812 and subduing the Caribben pirates, three campaigns which showed the European powers that the US would not be bullied and made the oceans safe for economically vital American exports. This is a darn good read for history buffs and kids who are old enough to read at this level. It has good rhythm and is fun to dance to, so I give it a 10.