How did Thomas Jefferson end the Barbary War?
He suspended trade with the Barbary States.
He enlisted the help of France's army to defeat the Barbary States.
He refused to pay the bribes and blockaded the port of Tripoli.
The correct answer is: He refused to pay the bribes and blockaded the port of Tripoli.
Thomas Jefferson refused to continue paying the Barbary States (specifically Tripoli) annual tribute payments that had previously been made by the United States to ensure the safety of American trade in the Mediterranean Sea. In response, Tripoli declared war on the United States in 1801, leading to the Barbary War.
Jefferson authorized the deployment of the US Navy to the Mediterranean to respond to the threat. The US Navy, led by Commodore Edward Preble, blockaded the port of Tripoli and launched several military attacks on Tripolitan naval vessels and forts. This naval action, along with intermittent ground operations by American forces, weakened Tripoli's position and eventually led to negotiations.
In 1805, Tripoli agreed to a peace treaty with the United States, which ended the Barbary War. This marked a significant victory for the young United States in asserting its independence and protecting its commercial interests in the Mediterranean without paying tribute to the Barbary States.