The Barabary Pirates were privateers financed by Noth African states. Europe dealt with them by paying tribute. With the signing of the 1983 treaty of Paris The United States was no longer covered by the British treaty and became a lucrative target, awkward since Jeffereson had sold off the entire navy. The United States had trouble negotiating treaties and tentative naval actions failed. But after the War of 1812 more powerful US and European ships engaged the pirates and over several decades did so much damage to North African towns that they stopped engaging in piracy.
—David Foss