Background Information
The Barbary Coast, drawing its name from the Berbers who inhabited North Africa, was a haven for pirates who preyed on Mediterranean commerce two centuries ago. After the Continental Navy was allowed to lapse, the U.S. Navy was reconstituted and has defend America for over two centuries. Two American naval officers named Stephen Decatur fought in the American Revolution and the War of 1812 respectively. Sometimes called the second American war for independence, the War of 1812 was the last battle against foreign troops on American soil.