America's War Against Pirates

America's War Against Pirates

Author: History Hit May 21, 2026 Duration: 53:33

Just twenty years after independence, the United States fought a lesser-known war against the Barbary States of North Africa... some use the term 'Corsairs', others referred to them as 'Pirates'. But why was America there? How was diplomacy conducted during this time? And how did these conflicts help transform a fragile republic into an emerging naval power?


Our guest today is Dr. Abby Mullen, professor at the United States Naval Academy. Her work includes hosting the ‘Consolation Prize’ podcast, and her book ‘To Fix a National Character: The United States in the First Barbary War, 1800–1805’, which won the ‘John R. Lyman Book Award’ in 2024.


All opinions expressed here are Abby's, and not those of the US Naval Academy, US Department of Defense or the US Government.


Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick.


Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  


All music from Epidemic Sounds.


American History Hit is a History Hit podcast.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Tune in twice a week as host Don Wildman digs into the stories that shaped a nation. American History Hit moves beyond textbook dates to explore the people, conflicts, and surprising events that define the American experience. Each episode is a deep dive into a different moment, whether it's the tense war preparations of Chief Powhatan, the clandestine work of codebreakers at Midway, or even the unexpected political accusations hurled by Walt Disney. You'll find that the past is never truly buried, as the series also uncovers the hidden layers beneath landmarks like New York's Central Park. This isn't just a chronicle of what happened; it's an investigation into how these echoes from pre-colonial times onward continue to resonate today. For anyone curious about the complex tapestry of the United States, this podcast from History Hit serves as an engaging and thoughtful guide, turning historical inquiry into a compelling narrative journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

American History Hit
Podcast Episodes
Bleeding Kansas: Start of the Civil War? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:04
Was 'Bleeding Kansas' a dress rehearsal for the Civil War to come? During the 1850s pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers clashed in the newly created territory of Kansas. From guerrilla raids and political chaos to the…
American Origins of Halloween [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:05
How did the pre-Christian commemoration of Samhain travel across the seas from Ancient Ireland to America? And how did it evolve into the Halloween we know and love to this day?In this special spooky episode Don welcomes…
Was the American Revolution a World War? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:14
What makes a war a World War? If it's the involvement of multiple major world powers, will France, Spain and the Netherlands do?If it's battles fought globally, do Canada, West Africa, India and the Mediterranean count?…
What If George Washington Became King? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:31
‘No occurrence in the course of the war has given me more painful sensations.' This was George Washington's response when the idea of his becoming 'King' was put to him.But what if he had? What would an American royalty…
What if the Cuban Missile Crisis Sparked WW3? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:57
On October 22 1962, President John F. Kennedy announced that Soviet missiles has been discovered in Cuba. Over the following days, the fate of the Americas was on the line.In this episode, Don is joined once again by Ren…
What If There Were No CIA? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:29
The Agency. The Company. Langley.Without the Central Intelligence Agency, would we talk about conspiracy theories as much as we do? Who would be in power in Guatemala? What about Iran? Would the Bourne films ever have be…
Origins of the US Navy: America's Revolutionary Pirate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:54
Happy 250th Birthday to the US Navy! Today Don asks, who was John Paul Jones and did he really father the US Navy? Our guest is historian James L. Nelson, author of 'Washington's Secret Navy'.In July 2026, tall ships of…
Who was the Best President Ever? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:02
What should we look for in a great President? Who was the greatest of all time? And is it harder for modern Presidents to make the top of the list? Don is joined by Professor Jeremi Suri, author of The Impossible Preside…
America's Invasion of Canada [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:24
'Canada ought to be the 14th colony' was a view held by many American revolutionaries. In the winter of 1775, Benedict Arnold led an incredible (if doomed) mission to make it happen.We're delighted to be joined again by…
Who Was the Worst President Ever? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:28
What makes a bad President? Who was the worst of all time? Don is joined by Professor Jeremi Suri, author of The Impossible Presidency and co-host of This Is Democracy.Next week we'll be looking at who is the best Presid…