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Events on Thursday 14 May 1801 1
1801Tripoli declares war on the United StatesOpening of the First Barbary WarOn 14 May 1801 the Pasha of Tripoli, Yusuf Qaramanli, declared war on the United States after it refused to pay increased tribute for safe passage of American ships. The declaration opened the First Barbary War, prompting the US to send a naval squadron to the Mediterranean. Fighting continued intermittently until 1805.