TIL: The Barbary wars marked the beginning of Americas global military campaigns. American merchant ships were captured and by North African states and then the

TIL: The Barbary wars marked the beginning of Americas global military campaigns. American merchant ships were captured and by North African states and then the Americans went to war. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_Wars#Effect_in_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_Wars#Effect_in_United_... Also, what pre-superpower days looked like: The US used to pay them annual tributes to leave the ships alone.. ".. by 1797, the United States had paid out $1.25 million or a fifth of the government's annual budget then in tribute.[12] These demands for tribute had imposed a heavy financial drain and by 1799 the U.S. was in arrears of $140,000 to Algiers and some $150,000 to Tripoli".