The 1st Barbary War saw the U.S. flag raised on foreign soil for the first time. The Barbary States controlled the Mediterranean. They forced European and U.S. merchants to pay tribute in exchange for immunity from pirate attacks. After the U.S. became independent they lost the protection of the Royal Navy. The Barbary leaders tried to enforce tributes but President Thomas Jefferson refused. The U.S. Navy went head-to-head with Barbary ships. They lost the USS Philadelphia with sailors imprisone

There is just one kind of pirate flag…right? Skull and crossbones? Actually there are a lot of historical examples of unique flags that were developed by individual pirates and companies. Most of these designs did emphasize skeletons, meant to symbolize the death that pirates could bring. While the most common design did seem to be the “Jolly Roger,” with skull and crossbones, there were many other designs. And it was highly unusual for anyone who was not a pirate to fly these death-bringing col