Barbary pirates operating out of Algiers captured 53 U.S. merchant ships and 1 brig along with 180 American sailors, 83 of whom were subsequently ransomed back by the United States government.

[4] In 1785, Algiers, led by Dey Muhammad, declared war on the United States and captured American ships.

Morocco's Sultan Sidi Muhammad had seized a US merchant ship in 1784 but later opted for peaceful trade.

In 1793, a Portuguese-Algerian truce left American ships vulnerable, pushing the US to negotiate with the Barbary States.

[6] US diplomats Joel Barlow, Joseph Donaldson, and Richard O'Brien secured treaties with Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, involving tribute payments.