WI USA Takes land in FIRST Barbary War

I know that during the beginning of the First Barbary war, the Mississippi purchase had not occured yet, and America was becoming more run by the D-R, wich seemed to be in favor of expansion. What if during the early stages of the Barbary War, American forces stage a massive victory against Morocco or Tunisia, and take a sort of "treaty port," or in the case of Morocco, complete annexation? I think that it would either make the United States into a true power much earlier after defeating whatever European nation that eventually takes objection to this land grab, turn the US into a pariah state that would end up not getting, say, the Mississippi purchase, or worst of all open it up to a potential war of "reestablishment of colonial order" by a European nation.

What do y'all think?
 
Here's a question: Can you find any American who advocated for seizing territory in North Africa during this period?
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
That's the last thing the Americans, especially the Jeffersonians, would have wanted to do. They wanted to look west, not east. And it was an article of faith among the Americans of the time to stay out of the Old World and focus on the New.
 
Why?

The big question is why would they take land? What possible gain is there in it, compared to the west?
That said, a small extraterritorial enclave for depositing cargo for reshipment, and buying and selling of all sorts of things, might go over well with the idea of America becoming an industrial nation...which Jefforson won't support.
 
I know that during the beginning of the First Barbary war, the Mississippi purchase had not occured yet, and America was becoming more run by the D-R, wich seemed to be in favor of expansion. What if during the early stages of the Barbary War, American forces stage a massive victory against Morocco or Tunisia, and take a sort of "treaty port," or in the case of Morocco, complete annexation? I think that it would either make the United States into a true power much earlier after defeating whatever European nation that eventually takes objection to this land grab, turn the US into a pariah state that would end up not getting, say, the Mississippi purchase, or worst of all open it up to a potential war of "reestablishment of colonial order" by a European nation.

What do y'all think?

That could mean war with the Ottoman Empire as the Barbary States had been vassals to them , on the other hand it might not have been such a great military power at that time anymore and had been past its prime for a long time . What would Great Britain say ?
 
On one hand I can see the European powers becoming upset at American control of the Strait of Gibraltar, but I can also see them thinking it a positive balancing situation. I don't think the Moroccans would care for this arrangement very much though.


Morocco is an interesting situation, they were one of the first countries to recognize an independent USA. If the early American government had been a little more astute, they may have been able to secure friendly basing in that country, and may even mitigate the Barbary problem. In the early 20th century there is potential for the USA to insert itself into Morocco.
 
On one hand I can see the European powers becoming upset at American control of the Strait of Gibraltar, but I can also see them thinking it a positive balancing situation. I don't think the Moroccans would care for this arrangement very much though.


Morocco is an interesting situation, they were one of the first countries to recognize an independent USA. If the early American government had been a little more astute, they may have been able to secure friendly basing in that country, and may even mitigate the Barbary problem. In the early 20th century there is potential for the USA to insert itself into Morocco.

Now that's a thought: have the US through a sort of vassalized Morocco eat up the Barbary States while the Ottomans are busy with France or something, then take it over a la Hawaii sometime in the future after expanding as west as it could. Either way, gives the US a foothold in Europe, which will not make England happy, which could mean an earlier Wo1812, and maybe even Napoleonically oriented Spanish colonies jumping in... but im getting ahead of myself. I guess what yall are tryin to say is to have the USA take over a Barbary state, youre gonna need to change the USA itself?
 
I'm really thinking of two later possibilities. First, the USA could take Ceuta in the Spanish-American War. Second, the USA could take over either the Spanish and/or French Protectorates in WW1.
 
How would they hold it during the War of 1812? If they have overseas territory they're going to need a far bigger navy and army than they had historically (something they were loathe to do). You'd need major changes in America to want something so far away when they have basically unlimited frontier right next door.
 
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