Question
Shortly after becoming president, Thomas Jefferson ordered the U.S. Navy and Marines to attack the North African state of Tripoli. Why did he take this action?
A.
to force Tripoli to pay tribute to the United States
B.
to make Tripoli sell slaves to the United States
C.
to secure American access to gold in the region
D.
to protect American merchant ships from pirates
A.
to force Tripoli to pay tribute to the United States
B.
to make Tripoli sell slaves to the United States
C.
to secure American access to gold in the region
D.
to protect American merchant ships from pirates
Answers
GPT-4o mini
D. to protect American merchant ships from pirates
Thomas Jefferson took this action to protect American merchant ships from piracy in the Mediterranean, particularly from the Barbary pirates based in North Africa, including Tripoli. The attacks were a response to the piracy and the demands for tribute that the Barbary states imposed on American shipping.
Thomas Jefferson took this action to protect American merchant ships from piracy in the Mediterranean, particularly from the Barbary pirates based in North Africa, including Tripoli. The attacks were a response to the piracy and the demands for tribute that the Barbary states imposed on American shipping.