From at least 1500, Barbary pirates raided ships traveling through the Mediterranean and along the northern and western coasts of Africa, plundering their cargo and enslaving the people they captured.

European pirates brought advanced sailing and shipbuilding techniques to the Barbary Coast around 1600, enabling the corsairs to extend their activities into the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1715, a 'slave fund' (slavekasse) was established by the state in Denmark-Norway, where funds were collected systematically in churches and through a compulsory insurance sum for seafarers. This fund was used to ransom 165 slaves between 1716 and 1736.

On December 20, 1777, Sultan Mohammed III of Morocco issued a declaration recognizing America as an independent country, allowing American merchant ships safe passage into the Mediterranean. This recognition led to the signing of the Moroccan–American Treaty of Friendship in 1786, the U.S.'s oldest non-broken friendship treaty with a foreign power.

The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3rd, 1783, marking the end of the American war for independence. This treaty ensured that American ships were no longer protected under British treaties.

In 1784, early American interactions with Barbary States began, setting the stage for future conflicts known as the Barbary Wars.

In 1785, Dey Muhammad of Algiers declared war on the United States and captured several American ships due to the U.S. ships being open to attack.

In 1786, the United States successfully concluded a treaty with Morocco after negotiations went well, despite previous tensions over the seizure of a U.S. merchant ship.

In February 1, 1791, the US Congress allocated $40,000 to free American captives held in Algiers due to attacks by Algerian ships. This decision was made after a failed proposal to establish a coalition of naval warships against the Barbary states.

In 1793, Portugal's actions in blocking Algerian ships from passing through the Straits of Gibraltar provided temporary safety to U.S. merchant ships in the Atlantic Ocean, easing the challenges posed by the Barbary States.

In 1794, the United States signed a peace treaty with Morocco, marking a significant diplomatic achievement.

On September 5, 1795, American negotiator Joseph Donaldson signed a peace treaty with the dey of Algiers. The treaty included an upfront payment of $642,500 in specie for peace, the release of American captives, and various gifts for the dey's royal court and family.

On September 5, 1796, the United States signed a treaty with Algiers, further solidifying diplomatic relations in the Barbary region.

On November 4, 1797, the United States signed a treaty with Tripoli, which would come into effect in June 1797, marking an important diplomatic milestone.

In 1798, Tunisians attacked an islet near Sardinia, taking more than 900 inhabitants as slaves. This event highlighted the ongoing issue of slave raids in the Mediterranean region.

On August 28, 1799, the United States signed a treaty with Tunis, further strengthening diplomatic ties in the Barbary region.

During the presidency of George Washington and his successor, John Adams, America paid $1,000,000 in tribute to Algiers, which amounted to a fifth of the government's annual budget. This payment was part of the efforts to maintain peace and security for American ships in the Mediterranean.

On February 6, 1801, Congress passed the Act for Protection of Commerce and Seamen of the United States Against the Tripolitian Corsairs, which essentially served as a declaration of war.

The First Barbary War was a conflict between the United States, Sweden, and the Kingdom of Sicily against the Barbary states of North Africa, including Tunis, Algiers, and Tripoli. It lasted from May 10, 1801, to June 10, 1805, and was primarily a response to piracy in the Mediterranean.

The First Barbary War, also known as the Tripolitian War, started when the United States sent a naval fleet under Commodore Richard Dale to combat the Barbary states of Tripoli and Algiers. The conflict arose due to the refusal to pay increased amounts of tribute to the Barbary pirates.

On May 15, 1801, President Jefferson dispatches a naval squadron led by Captain Richard Dale to Tripoli to impose a blockade, lasting from July 24 to September 3, in response to Tripoli's hostilities against American ships.

August 1, 1801, marks the capture of Admiral Rais Mahomet Rous' ship Tripoli by Andrew Sterett and the USS Enterprise after a fierce battle, marking the first U.S. naval victory in the Barbary Wars.

On January 17, 1803, Commodore Edward Preble led an American squadron to the Mediterranean, with notable subordinate officers including Stephen Decatur, John Rodgers, Isaac Chauncey, Oliver Hazard Perry, and David Porter.

On March 4, 1803, Commodore Charles Morris and Captain John Rogers were arrested by the Bey of Tunis and forced to pay Eaton’s debts.

On May 12, 1803, Captain Rodgers and the John Adams captured the Tripolitan frigate Meshouda.

In June 1803, Tobias Lear was appointed as the consul general to the Barbary States, representing the United States in diplomatic matters in that region.

On October 31, 1803, William Bainbridge and his warship the Philadelphia surrendered to Tripoli after accidentally running aground in Tripoli harbor.

On February 16, 1804, Stephen Decatur and his crew set the captured Philadelphia on fire while it was anchored in Tripoli harbor, preventing its use by the enemy.

In August 1804, Commodore Preble initiated an attack on Tripoli that lasted until September 11, aiming to weaken the enemy's stronghold in the region.

On April 27, 1805, William Eaton, along with former Tripoli Pasha Hamet Karamanli and mercenaries, launched a successful attack on Derna after a challenging march across the Libyan desert, supported by US warships under Captain Isaac Hull.

The First Barbary War concluded with a treaty between the United States and Algiers on June 30, 1805. America paid a ransom for prisoners, agreed to send gifts, and withdrew its fleet from the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean Squadron is withdrawn, leading to Barbary powers resuming capturing American trading ships.

The Dey of Algiers rejects the annual American tribute, resulting in the expulsion of Tobias Lear and colleagues from Algiers.

In response to President James Madison's request, Congress declared war on Algiers and authorized the use of force on March 3, 1815. This decision came after the Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812 with Britain.

In 1815, the Americans informed Dey Omar Pasha of their decision to go to war against him due to his demand for an increase in the annual tribute. The declaration emphasized the choice between peace and war, ultimately leading to military action.

The Second Barbary War was a brief conflict that took place in June 1815 between the United States and the Barbary states of North Africa. It lasted only three days and resulted in the end of tribute payments by the United States to the Barbary states.

William Shaler negotiates a treaty that ends tribute payments, frees American and European slaves, and secures American shipping rights in the Mediterranean.

Stephen Decatur and the Guerriere return to New York City to a hero's welcome.

The U.S. Senate ratified Decatur's Algerian treaty on December 5, 1815, aimed at securing the release of all European captives. Despite initial repudiation by Dey Omar, a new treaty with similar provisions was negotiated by U.S. commissioner William Shaler.

President Madison declares the Barbary War over, although American squadrons continue to patrol the Mediterranean.

U.S. commissioner William Shaler concluded negotiations for a new treaty on December 23, 1815, which contained provisions similar to the previous one. The treaty aimed to address the issue of European captives held in Algiers.

Oliver Hazard Perry is sent as captain of the Java to patrol the Mediterranean.

The U.S. Senate ratified the new treaty on February 11, 1822, after an accidental oversight delayed the ratification process. The treaty aimed to maintain peace and secure the release of captives held by the Barbary States.

In 1824, a British fleet under Admiral Sir Harry Burrard Neale bombarded Algiers as a response to the continued slave-raiding activities. This action marked a significant moment in the efforts to combat corsair activities in the Barbary states.

In 1830, France conquered Algiers, putting an end to the corsair activities based in the region. This conquest marked a significant turning point in the history of the Barbary states and their involvement in the slave trade.

The book 'White Slaves, African Masters: An Anthology of American Barbary Captivity Narratives' edited by Paul Baepler was published in 1999. It compiles narratives of American captives in Barbary, shedding light on this historical period.