POD 1800: President Alexander Hamilton continues program of naval expansion after winning election.
Part One-Conquest
Tripolitan War 1801-1805
President Hamilton dispatches a powerful naval squadron to subdue the Ottoman Valayat of Tripoli. The President hopes publicly to gain the release of American prisoners and end the practice of paying ransom or protection money for the safe passage of American merchents plying Mediterrenean waters, but privately realizes the importance of a permanent American presence in the Mediterrenean. The squadron sails under the command of Admiral John Rodgers, Rodgers hopes the mere presence of the American forces arrayed against Pasha Yussif Karamanli would compel him to make a amiable peace with the United States, however the clear reply to his ultimatium quickly dashes his hopes.
The Pasha Yussif Karamanli was an arrogant man to say the least, but thats not too say that rejecting the ultimatium out of hand was any proof his avarice, after all the Pasha still held many American prisoners lives in his own hands, so the threat that Admiral Rodgers would destroy Tripoli by bombardment if he didn't agree-to what he thought amounted to suicide, i.e. release all Christian prisoners of war, renounce the practice of piracy and above all step down and allow the return of Hamet Karamanli-seemed abit absurd, he however was soon dissuaded from such thoughts as the American squadron opened fire on the city. Seeing his beloved city pummeled the Pasha quickly ordered the execution of all American prisoners in his custody, then fled into the interior.
The next day American Marines landed to take control of what was left of the city and free their imprisoned countrymen only to find their remains. Admiral Rodgers replaced Hamet Karamanli as Pasha and left a garrison under the command of the Pasha's political advisor William Eaton as well as a squadron of warships to ensure peace and tranquility.
The War of 1812
During the War of 1812 the USN's Mediterrenean squadron could do little more than survive against the might of the Royal Navy none the less protect American interests from abuse, which with their nation in its current predicament, the Barabry States of Algiers and Tunis had seen to take advantage of the situation and break their Peace Treaties with America. However by 1815, America was at peace with Britain and an enlarged battle fleet consisting of no less than as dozen SoTL, and under the command of Admiral Stephen Decatur, sailed into the Mediterrenean to subdue Algiers and Tunis. Within short order both sued for peace. However, the War of 1812 had proven the usefullness of a permanent American presence in the Mediterrenean and this time the Americans had no intention of leaving when the previous rulers had been thrown out of power. So eight years after peace was again established in 1815, under the recommendation of American consul William Shaler, in 1823 the United States annexed the Ottoman Valayat of Tripoli and the Regencies of Algiers and Tunis.