Chapter 28

A DARING EXPLOIT

1. Who were the Barbary pirates?

2. Why did we buy the good will of the Barbary pirates?

3. What is blackmail? (Consult a large dictionary.)

4. What did Thomas Jefferson think should be done concerning the Barbary pirates?

5. Who was sent to the Mediterranean Sea?

6. What was the exploit of the Enterprise?

7. What is a pasha? (Consult a large dictionary.)

8. What happened to the frigate Philadelphia and her crew?

9. What did Commodore Preble do when the Philadelphia was captured?

10. Why was Stephen Decatur chosen to destroy the Philadelphia?

11. What was Decatur's plan for destroying the Philadelphia?

12. What is a ketch? (Consult a large dictionary.)

13. How many men volunteered for the dangerous undertaking?

14. What kind of time did Decatur and his men have off the shore of Tripoli?

15. What happened to the Siren?

16. How was the Philadelphia guarded?

17. What was the object in dragging sails and buckets in the water?

18. How did Decatur deceive the pirate officer?

19. How did the pirates discover the Americans?

20. What kind of fighters were the Tripolitan pirates said to be?

21. How long did the fight on board the Philadelphia last?

22. How many of Decatur's men were injured?

23. What did the Americans do with the Philadelphia?

24. Why were the Americans obliged to burn the Philadelphia? (Read earlier in this chapter.)

25. How successful were the pirates in firing at the Americans?

26. What did the sailors say afterwards about the burning ship?

27. Why was it the Americans were so successful in burning the Philadelphia?

28. What did Nelson say of Decatur's deed?

29. What promotion did Decatur receive?