Slaves in Algiers: the United States of America's Prisoners in Algiers 1785-1797

Throughout the 15 century and 18 centuries the Mediterranean witnessed a vicious conflict between the North African States and the European powers. The North African States and the Europeans captured each other's ships and enslaved the crews aboard. Therefore, the European powers mollified the North African States with annual tribute so they leave their ships pass in peace. In late 18 century the United States of America got independence and resumed its trade in the Mediterranean. Consequently, the American vessels became a target for the North African corsairs, specially Algerians corsairs because there were not any kind of treaties between the U.S. and the North Africans. In 1785 the Algerian corsairs seized two American ships and captured the crewmen. Once again in 1793 the Algerian managed to abduct 10 trade ships and captured 120 men. More than 10 years the American tread ships suffered from the North African corsairs. Meanwhile, the  American captives suffered 10 year enslavement in Algiers and the U.S. government lacked a solution for the problem. This situation raise a public criticism for the government and generated a public respond. This research aims to shed a light on the American captives experience in Algiers on a personal level and at the same time this research try to understand the American public respond to the captives issue.