Algeria

a French colony in the N. of Africa; bounded on the N. by the Mediterranean, on the E. by Tunis, on the W. by Morocco, and on the S. by the desert of Sahara. The country now Algeria was for many years the seat of a piratical despotism, tributary to the Sultan of Turkey, but virtually independent. After the ‘Americans had gained independence the Algerians were encouraged by the British to prey on American commerce, so that the United States might be prevented from _rivalling Great Britain in the Mediterranean. American merchantmen were captured by the Algerian pirates, and the crews were ransomed or enslaved. In November, 1795, the United States made a ge treaty agreeing to pay to the Dey of Algiers a tribute equal to $22,000 yearly for “ protec: tion * to American commerce. When the War of 1812 broke out the Dey of Algiers ignored the treaty, and attacked and plundered American ve els. Promptly upon the conclusion of peace with England the American government proceeded to take vengeance on the Algerians, and a powerful squadron under Captains Decatur and Bainbridge was sent to the Mediterranean. The Algerians had a strong navy, and met the Americans with a superior force in ve els and guns. The Mashouda, the Algerian flagship, was captured after a sanguinary struggle. The Dey in terror acceded to all American demands, agreed to forego tribute, and gave up the American captives, who ki ed the American flag and wept for joy. In the following year, 1816, the British bombarded Algiers, and forced the Dey to agree to put a stop to piracy—an agreement that was not kept. In 1827 the French began the work of conquering Algiers, and after a struggle of about thirty years they completely subdued the country, and made it a peaceful and flourishing colony of France.